Phase distribution of products of radiation and post-radiation distillation of biopolymers: Cellulose, lignin and chitin

Influence of both the absorbed dose and the dose rate of 8 MeV electron-beam radiation on destruction of microcrystalline cellulose, pine lignin and krill chitin was investigated. Two conversion modes were compared: (1) post-radiation distillation PRD and (2) electron-beam distillation EBD. Cellulose, chitin and lignin demonstrate different responses to irradiation and distillation in PRD and EBD modes. Treatment in EBD mode transforms biopolymers to organic liquid more productively than conventional dry distillation and treatment in PRD mode. Both radiation heating and an irradiation without heating intensify chitin and cellulose decomposition and distillation. At the same time lignin decaying rather efficiently in EBD mode appears to be insensitive to a preliminary irradiation in PRD mode up to a dose of 2.4 MGy.

► Direct conversion of cellulose, chitin and lignin to organic liquid is intensified by electron-beam irradiation.
► Alternative approach to bio-oil production.
► Both electron-beam distillation mode and post-radiation distillation mode are effective for cellulose and chitin conversion.
► Electron-beam distillation mode is preferable for lignin conversion.
► Preliminary deep dehydration of biopolymers is realizable at low dose rates.