Development of agricultural residue fractionation process for conversion of cellulose fraction to value added cellulose products via bio- and chemo-catalytic platforms
The proposed project aims to using one/two stage fractionation processes of agricultural residues for separation of biomass component (cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin), leading to further conversion into industrial-need chemicals and/or biofuel. Later, conversion of cellulose content to alternative fuels, micro/nano-cellulose particles and/or cellulose derivatives (e.g. cellulose acetate, carboxylate cellulose, and methylcellulose) by mean of chemical/thermo/bio platforms will be done. The results from this project will provide promising alternative approaches for value-added utilization of the underused by-products, leading to increasing economic competitiveness of the local industry.