Acidic processing of hemicellulosic saccharides from pine wood: product distribution and kinetic modeling

Bioresour Technol. 2014 Jun:162:192-9. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.03.150. Epub 2014 Apr 4.

Abstract

Water soluble compounds were removed from Pinus pinaster wood by a mild aqueous extraction, and the treated wood was subjected to hydrothermal processing to convert most hemicelluloses into soluble saccharides (including low molecular weight polymers, oligomers and monosaccharides). The liquid phase containing hemicellulose-derived saccharides was acidified with sulfuric acid and heated up to 130-250°C to obtain furans and levulinic acid as major products. The concentration profiles of the major compounds participating in the reactions were interpreted by a kinetic model. A maximum conversion of pentoses into furfural near 80% was predicted at high temperature and short time, conditions leading to 24% conversion of hexoses into HMF. Production of levulinic acid was favored at low temperatures. Maximum molar conversion of hexoses into levulinic acid (66.7% at 130°C) needed a long reaction time (235 h). A value of 53.0% can be achieved at 170°C after 5 h.

Keywords: Furans; High-temperature reaction; Kinetics; Levulinic acid; Pinus pinaster wood.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetic Acid / chemistry
  • Furaldehyde / analogs & derivatives
  • Furaldehyde / analysis
  • Hexoses / analysis
  • Hydrolysis
  • Kinetics
  • Levulinic Acids / analysis
  • Models, Theoretical*
  • Oligosaccharides / chemistry*
  • Pinus / chemistry*
  • Polysaccharides / chemistry*
  • Sulfuric Acids / chemistry*
  • Temperature
  • Wood / chemistry*

Substances

  • Hexoses
  • Levulinic Acids
  • Oligosaccharides
  • Polysaccharides
  • Sulfuric Acids
  • 5-hydroxymethylfurfural
  • hemicellulose
  • Furaldehyde
  • sulfuric acid
  • Acetic Acid
  • levulinic acid