MICROWAVE CHEMISTRY
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Dr. Budarin contributions to MW-technology:
Microwave Chemistry area has received special attention from scientists over the last 20 years. Based on Dr. Budarin’s research in the area of microwave processing of biomass and biowaste, a breakthrough for biorefinery was made. Dr. Budarin found a low-temperature MW-activation of biomass and bio-waste happening at 100C lower than the conventional type of heating. Furthermore, three main constituents of biomass (hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin) have individual temperature activation ranges. This led to the significantly improved selectivity of MW biomass/bio-waste processing.
Alternatively to the traditional type of heating (conventional), the MW-type of heating is green, efficient and more selective towards valuable chemicals.
Following this invention, a ...?
WHY MICROWAVE?
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Rapid volumetric heating
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Uniform heating
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Instant control
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Acceleration of reaction rate
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Selective interaction with active groups
Volumetric heating has significant advantages due to low heat transfer of biomass
ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM: MICROWAVES
Main parameters:
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Electromagnetic Field Frequency: 300 GHz - 300 MHz
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Wavelength: 12.2 cm
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Quantum energy: 0.037 kcal/mol
Hydrogen bond energy in water is 4.9 kcal/mol, therefore a microwave photon cannot break H-bond. This leads to the specific interaction of MW-irradiation with individual free molecules (or their groups free from H-bonds with solvent), guaranteeing high selectivity and homogeneous volumetric heating rate.
MICROWAVE AND BIOMASS ACTIVATION
A wide range of feedstock interacts with MW at a variety of parameters (time, temperature, power), that results on a wide range of final products.
Accurate control of the MW parameters makes it possible to control such processes as pyrolysis, hydrolysis, extraction, and others.
Published at Bioresource Technology, 100 (23), 6064-6068
General Vision
Routes On Biomass Activation
VALUE-ADDED BIO-OIL FROM SEEDS
Dr. Budarin demonstrated that MW-technology is suitable for the extraction of oil from seeds. The char resulted from in the suggested scheme has a high heat of combustion and therefore can be used as a fuel.
WHEAT STRAW BIOREFINERY
Dr. Budarin has offered and proved a full cycle on the use of wheat straw by the means of green MW-assisted technology.
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Published Energy&Environmental Science, 2011, 4(2), 471-479
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MACROALGAE BIOREFINERY
Around 80% of macroalgae was converted to a variety of different valuable products.
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Published Green Chemistry, 2012, 14(12), 3251-3254
ORANGE PEEL BIOREFINERY
Dr. Budarin has shown an efficient MW-assisted orange peel biorefinery to valuable products. Applications were offered for the all received products. Pectin is taking a special place amount other fractions. Pectin is an important ...
Published at ChemSusChem, 2012, 5(9), 1694-1697
MAIN PUBLICATIONS
1. Budarin, V. L.; Clark, J. H.; Lanigan, B. A.; Shuttleworth, P.; Breeden, S. W.; Wilson, A. J.; Macquarrie, D. J.; Milkowski, K.; Jones, J.; Bridgeman, T.; et al. The Preparation of High-Grade Bio-Oils through the Controlled, Low Temperature Microwave Activation of Wheat Straw. Bioresource Technology 2009, 100 (23), 6064–6068. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2009.06.068.
2. Budarin, V. L.; Clark, J. H.; Lanigan, B. A.; Shuttleworth, P.; Macquarrie, D. J. Microwave Assisted Decomposition of Cellulose: A New Thermochemical Route for Biomass Exploitation. Bioresource Technology 2010, 101 (10), 3776–3779. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2009.12.110
3. Budarin, V. L.; Shuttleworth, P. S.; Dodson, J. R.; Hunt, A. J.; Lanigan, B.; Marriott, R.; Milkowski, K. J.; Wilson, A. J.; Breeden, S. W.; Fan, J.; et al. Use of Green Chemical Technologies in an Integrated Biorefinery. Energy and Environmental Science 2011, 4 (2), 471–479. https://doi.org/10.1039/c0ee00184h
4. Budarin, V. L.; Zhao, Y.; Gronnow, M. J.; Shuttleworth, P. S.; Breeden, S. W.; Macquarrie, D. J.; Clark, J. H. Microwave-Mediated Pyrolysis of Macro-Algae. Green Chem. 2011, 13 (9), 2330–2333. https://doi.org/10.1039/C1GC15560A.
5. Budarin, V. L.; Shuttleworth, P. S.; De bruyn, M.; Farmer, T. J.; Gronnow, M. J.; Pfaltzgraff, L.; Macquarrie, D. J.; Clark, J. H. The Potential of Microwave Technology for the Recovery, Synthesis and Manufacturing of Chemicals from Bio-Wastes. Catalysis Today 2015, 239, 80–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cattod.2013.11.058.