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Chemistry

The University of Maine

Theses/Dissertations

Wood chemistry

Publication Year

Articles 1 - 3 of 3

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Biological Conversion Of Hemicellulose Extract Into Value-Added Fuels And Chemicals, Sara Lynn Walton Dec 2009

Biological Conversion Of Hemicellulose Extract Into Value-Added Fuels And Chemicals, Sara Lynn Walton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The research presented in this thesis describes the fermentation of hemicellulose extracts to produce ethanol and lactic acid. Hardwood hemicellulose extracts made at a variety of conditions using the green liquor and hot water extraction processes were characterized and then fermented by Escherichia coli K011 and Bacillus coagulans MXL-9. Hemicellulose extracts were found to contain a dilute amount of xylo-oligosaccharides and acetic acid as the major components, and many minor components including other organic acids, lignin-derived phenolics, and sugar degradation products. In order to generate ethanol economically, the fermentation must produce at least a 4% ethanol solution, which requires a …


Synthesis And Oxidation Of Lignin-Carbohydrate Model Compounds, Mai Thanh Thi Nguyen Aug 2008

Synthesis And Oxidation Of Lignin-Carbohydrate Model Compounds, Mai Thanh Thi Nguyen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

To decrease our dependence on foreign oil supply and in an effort to decrease the amount of green house gases into the atmosphere, researchers are focusing on ways of producing fuels and chemicals from renewable resources. A renewable source such as wood has great potential for the production of biofuels and biochemicals. An integrated biorefinery process that maximizes the usage of wood and complements existing pulp and paper technology was proposed to extract underutilize hemicelluloses and covert them into bioethanol. In this process, not only hemicelluloses are extracted; lignin, since it is covalently bonded to hemicelluloses is extracted as well. …


Technical Evaluation Of Hardwood Biorefinery Using The "Near-Neutral" Hemicellulose Extraction Process, Haibo Mao Dec 2007

Technical Evaluation Of Hardwood Biorefinery Using The "Near-Neutral" Hemicellulose Extraction Process, Haibo Mao

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A technical analysis was performed for a new process that produces ethanol and acetic acid from hardwood in addition to bleached hardwood Kraft pulp. The new process, termed the "near neutral" hemicellulose extraction process, involves the extraction of wood hemicellulose using green liquor prior to conventional Kraft pulping. This thesis assumes that the new process is located at an existing kraft pulp mill. Ancillary unit operations in the process include hydrolysis of the extracted carbohydrates using sulfuric acid, filtration of the extract to remove lignin that was extracted with the carbohydrates, liquid-liquid extraction of acetic acid and by-product furfural, liming …