SCOPE meeting

The work in this presentation highlights the scCO2 extraction of added-value chemicals from the sawdust and needles of two different species: Spruce and Scots Pine. It has been demonstrated that supercritical CO2 extraction of Scots Pine sawdust intended for the production of wood fuel pellets is a feasible and very promising method for improving the pellet quality in terms of storage stability by minimising the off-gassing phenomena associated with incidents of carbon monoxide poisoning and self-heating/fire. The scCO2 extraction of waxes from the needles of the two species: Norwegian Spruce and Scots Pine was successfully performed and optimisation studies indicated that the best crude yields were obtained with 400 bar and 60 °C. In the case of the Norwegian Spruce, the majority compound was found to be nonacosan-10-ol (a high value chemical), and the best yield was obtained when using conditions of 200 bar and 60 ° C. Purification of Nonacosan-10-ol from the wax extract was carried out using a novel, simple green, recrystallisation technique, the purity of which was checked by GC, 1H and 13C NMR and SEM. Application testing of this purified nonacosan-10-ol for use as superhydrophobic coatings was also carried out.