(2024) Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis_Thermo-chemical upcycling of cellulosic paper packaging waste into furfural and bio-fuel catalyst

Kim E.; Yoon K.; Kwon G.; Kim N.; Park G.; Jeon Y.J.; Kwon E.E.; Song H.

(Elsevier B.V.) Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis ISSN: 1652370 Vol.183 Issue. Article No.106844 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaap.2024.106844

The extensive use of fossil fuels and chemicals has resulted in substantial emissions of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO₂), which in turn have triggered global warming. As a proactive response, converting waste into energy and chemicals is a paramount importance. To maximize carbon utilization, implementing a thermo-chemical process for waste valorization is a promising approach owing to its high tolerance for the intrinsic heterogeneity of waste materials. Thus, the development of thermo-chemical processes that exhibit high productivity and selectivity for valorized products should be prioritized. In this study, we focused on the pyrolysis of paper packaging waste (PPW) as a case study to address these challenges. To enhance the production of syngas and furfural, PPW was pretreated with ferrous sulfate (FeSO₄) before undergoing pyrolysis. Slow and fast pyrolysis were conducted to characterize the production of syngas and bio-oil, respectively. The pretreatment of PPW with FeSO₄ increases syngas production, attributed to the catalytic properties of iron (Fe). Bio-oil derived from FeSO4-treated PPW contained more homogenized chemicals compared with that from untreated PPW. Furfural selectivity reached 51.1 % when PPW pretreated with FeSO₄ (10 wt% of Fe relative to PPW) was pyrolyzed at 600 ˚C. Additionally, biochar produced from FeSO4-treated PPW exhibited a porous carbon structure with a high surface area (123.8 m2 g−1) and was rich in minerals, such as Fe and calcium (Ca). This biochar catalytically enhanced the reaction kinetics of thermally induced transesterification of soybean oil, resulting in a biodiesel yield of 88.7 % at 350 ˚C. The findings of this study offer a practical approach to establishing a sustainable and carbon-neutral platform for the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into value-added products. © 2024 Elsevier B.V.

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korean Government (MSIT) (No. RS-2023-00219667).