Sulfur dioxide-ethanol-water fractionation platform for conversion of recycled wood to sugars, lignin and lignosulfonates

Abstract Recycled wood of two grades (A and B) and spruce were converted on bench (100 o.d. g) and pilot (100 o.d. kg) scales to monosugars, lignin and lignosulfonates using SO2-Ethanol-Water (AVAP®) technology. After digestion, C6 and C5 sugars were recovered at 98–100% and 87–99% for Wood A and Spruce, respectively, while the values for Wood B were 92% and 74–87%. Cellulose was hydrolysed to glucose at 90% or higher using enzyme charge of 7.1 FPU/g glucan. Hemicellulosic sugars were autohydrolyzed to 95–100% monosugars. At bench scale, monosaccharide yield was 609, 561 and 688 kg (hydrous) per BDT biomass for Wood A, Wood B and Spruce, respectively. Corresponding water insoluble lignin yield was 157, 148 and 189 kg per BDT biomass. The preliminary techno-economic evaluation revealed that conversion of recycled wood to sugars using AVAP® fractionation platform results in higher profitability in comparison to virgin wood.