Crude glycerol-mediated liquefaction of saccharification residues of sunflower stalks for production of lignin biopolyols

• Sunflower stalk saccharification residues was liquefied to prepare biopolyols.
• Unrefined crude glycerol byproduct was employed as a liquefaction solvent.
• The biopolyols were produced with 59% conversion at optimal condition.
• Hydroxyl and acid numbers of biopolyols were 1460 mg KOH/g and 11 mg KOH/g.
• The biopolyol was suitable for polyurethane synthesis.

Biopolyol was produced by the liquefaction of the sunflower stalk saccharification residues using a biodiesel-derived crude glycerol as a liquefaction solvent. Biopolyol was produced under the optimal conditions of 10% (w/w) biomass loading, 4% (w/w) sulfuric acid loading at 150 °C and for 60 min. Biomass conversion was 59%, and the hydroxyl and acid number numbers were 1460 and 11 mg KOH/g biopolyol, respectively. The bio-PU was synthesized from the biopolyol and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed that bio-PU was successfully synthesized from biopolyols and MDI.

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