Liquid membrane catalytic model of hydrolyzing cellulose into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural based on the lattice Boltzmann method

Conversion of cellulose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is an important means of biomass utilization. However, simulation of hydrolysis of cellulose and species transport in multiphase systems is still missing. In this paper, a multiphase lattice Boltzmann method of the Shan–Chen model has been applied for simulating the complex chemical reactions and interphase mass transfer in a liquid membrane catalytic reactor. For the sake of simplification, a single particle liquid membrane catalytic model is developed to simulate the hydrolysis of cellulose into HMF and its side reactions, which include the adsorption of cellulose particles on the liquid membrane, the complex chemical reactions inside the liquid membrane and the interphase transfer of HMF. This simulation presents the results of hydrolysis of cellulose and the HMF transport process. Additionally, the results show that the thinner liquid membrane thickness is beneficial for increasing the yield of HMF.