Sequential Production of Xylose, Levulinic Acid and Activated Carbon from Pine Wood

In this work, a sequential production of bioenergy platform intermediates (i.e., xylose and levulinic acid (LA)) and carbon materials from pine wood was developed by a three-step conversion technology. Firstly, the hemicellulose in pine wood was hydrolyzed, obtaining 12.8 wt% xylose and 68.9 wt% solid products containing cellulose and lignin. Secondly, the solid products were hydrolyzed, obtaining 30.6 wt% LA and 42.0 wt % solid residues containing humins and lignin. Thirdly, the solid residues were used for activated carbon (AC) production through potassium hydrate (KOH) activation followed by pyrolysis from 400-800 degrees C. An AC obtained at a pyrolysis temperature of 800 degrees C had a high Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area of 2436 m(2)/g and pore volume of 0.91 cm(1)/g, which exhibited an excellent reactive brilliant red X-3B (RBRX3B) adsorption capacity of 892 mg/g. As a case, 1000 g of pine wood finally produced 128 g xylose, 211 g LA and 39 g highperformance activated carbon.