摘要 |
Furfural is obtained selectively and in good purity from non-fermentable branched sugars found in soluble waste streams of lignocellulosic biomass. In a monophasic method, stillage or syrup is contacted with water and an acid catalyst under suitable reaction conditions to convert the branched non-fermentable branched sugars to furfural. Additionally, the stillage or syrup can be treated with a water-immiscible organic solvent to form a biphasic mixture comprising an aqueous phase and an organic phase. The furfural that is produced preferentially partitions into the organic phase, from which it may be recovered. |