Quantification of Hydrolytic Sugars from Eucalyptus globulus Bio-Oil Aqueous Solution after Thermochemical Liquefaction

Abstract

Eucalyptus globulus sawdust is a residue from the pulp and paper industry which has been underutilised and undervalued. The thermochemical liquefaction of sawdust can be considered an alternative for recycling this residue, as it results in the production of a bio-oil that, when extracted in water, allows the obtention of an aqueous solution composed of carbohydrates. The sugars resulting from the aqueous fraction of bio-oil can be valued by and applied in the industry to produce sustainable materials. For the first time, the sugar composition of the aqueous extract of bio-oil was disclosed, identified, and quantified by a high-pressure liquid chromatograph (HPLC) coupled to a refractive index (RID) detector containing fructose (36.58%) and glucose (33.33%) as the main components, sucrose (15.14%), trehalose (4.82%) and xylose (10.13%). The presence of these sugars was further confirmed by two-dimensional (2D) 1H-13C heteronuclear single-quantum correlation–nuclear magnetic resonance (HSQC–NMR) spectroscopy. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR-ATR) and elemental analyses were also used. In addition, the pathway leading to the identified sugars is also suggested.