Cotton farming sustainability: Formation of trans-isoeugenol/ bio-aromatics, 5-chloromethylfurfural, C13–C17 liquid hydrocarbons & fertilizer from cotton gin trash

We have examined a sustainable biorefinery process for the conversion of cotton gin trash (CGT), a waste from the cotton industry to multiple high value products. Herein, we found CGT native lignin to have unique features as it not only contains the p-hydroxyphenyl (H), guaiacol (G) and syringol (S) units, but structures of flavonoids, tyrosine, and phenylalanine associated with it. We have used the lignin-first approach to exploit its features in CGT and depolymerize it using argon gas and ethanol over Pd/C. The results show that 50% of the bio-aromatics is trans-isoeugenol, a precursor to produce vanillin. The cleavage of N-compounds from CGT during the fractionation process follows similar path as the rate of formation of the bio-aromatics. CGT impurities were shown to affect the reusability of the Pd/C catalyst. The fractionated cellulose-rich portion of CGT was converted to 39 mol% (80% purity) of 5-chloromethylfurfural (CMF), and a solid fuel which has a higher heating value of 20 MJ kg−1. The liquid extract, removed prior to CGT processing, was hydrogenated to produce C13–C17 liquid hydrocarbons, and the solid extract rich in nutrients is suitable for crops and plants growth.