Polyols from microwave liquefied bagasse and its application to rigid polyurethane foam

Abstract

Bagasse flour (BF) was liquefied using bi-component polyhydric alcohol (PA) as a solventand phosphoric acid as a catalyst in a microwave reactor. The effect of BF to solvent ratio andreaction temperatures on the liquefaction extent and characteristics of liquefied products wereevaluated. The results revealed that almost 75% of the raw bagasse was converted into liquidproducts within 9 min at 150 C with a BF to solvent ratio of 1/4. The hydroxyl and acid values of theliquefied bagasse (LB) varied with the liquefied conditions. High reaction temperature combiningwith low BF to solvent ratio resulted in a low hydroxyl number for the LB. The molecular weightand polydispersity of the LB from reactions of 150 C was lower compared to that from 125 C. Rigidpolyurethane (PU) foams were prepared from LB and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), andthe structural, mechanical and thermal properties of the PU foam were evaluated. The PU foamsprepared using the LB from high reaction temperature showed better physical and mechanicalperformance in comparison to those from low reaction temperature. The amount of PA in theLB has the ability of increasing thermal stability of LB-PU foams. The results in this study mayprovide fundamental information on integrated utilizations of sugarcane bagasse via microwaveliquefaction process.

Citation

Xie, Jiulong; Zhai, Xianglin; Hse, Chung; Shupe, Todd; Pan, Hui. 2015. Polyols from microwave liquefied bagasse and its application to rigid polyurethane foam. Materials, Vol. 8(12): 14 pages.: 8496-8509.  10.3390/ma8125472