Furfural production from corn cobs autohydrolysis liquors by microwave technology

Nowadays, lignocellulosic agricultural wastes are regarded as alternative source of renewable raw materials. This study is based in the hemicellulosic monomers conversion into furfural using different acid catalysts and microwave technology. In this work, liquors with high content in hemicelluloses obtained from corn cobs autohydrolysis were treated with sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid as catalysts, in order to obtain the optimum conditions for furfural production. Optimum conditions were determined using experimental designs in which catalyst concentrations, temperature and time of reactions were varied. The results showed that the furfural production was strongly influenced by catalyst concentration, time and temperature of the reaction. Highest furfural yields (37.06% respects to the total hemicelluloses contained in the initial raw material) were reached using HCl as catalyst at medium acid concentration, medium temperature and high time of reaction.

► Hemicellulosic monomers were converted into furfural using acid catalysts in microwave.
► Optimum conditions for furfural production were determined using experimental designs.
► Catalyst concentrations, temperature and time of reactions were varied.
► Highest furfural yield was reached using HCl, medium temperature and high time of reaction.