Production of levoglucosanan glucose from pyrolysis of cellulosic materials

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1979 · J. Appl. Polym. Sci.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/app.1979.070231209· OSTI ID:5113285

Shafizadeh, F; Furneaux, R H; Cochran, T G; Scholl, J P; Sakai, Y

Vacuum pyrolysis of cellulose within the temperature range of 300 to 500/sup 0/C provides a tar fraction containing mainly levoglucosan and glucose condensation products. It was found that pyrolysis proceeds at a much faster rate at the higher temperatures without detrimental effect on the yields. At 400/sup 0/C the reaction was essentially complete within 3 min yielding a tar that contained 39% levoglucosan and, upon mild acid hydrolysis, gave 49% D-glucose. The yields could be further improved by washing or treatment of cellulosic substrates with acids. Cotton hydrocellulose provided up to 58% levoglucosan or 77% D-glucose. This is the highest yield determined by unequiocal methods. Commonly available cellulosic materials such as wood and newsprint give very poor yields of levoglucosan. However, the yields could be improved substantially by acid washing or prehydrolysis to the extent that pyrolysis of these substrates may become an attractive industrial process. The data in this report provide the technical basis for such a process and resolve the existing controversies on the reported yields.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Montana, Missoula
• OSTI ID: 5113285
• Journal Information: J. Appl. Polym. Sci.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Appl. Polym. Sci.; (United States) Vol. 23; ISSN JAPNA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
140504* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Biomass Production & Conversion-- (-1989)
ACID HYDROLYSIS
ALDEHYDES
CARBOHYDRATES
CELLULOSE
CHEMICAL REACTION YIELD
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
GLUCOSE
HEXOSES
HIGH TEMPERATURE
HYDROLYSIS
LYSIS
MONOSACCHARIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PAPER
POLYSACCHARIDES
PYROLYSIS
SACCHARIDES
SOLVOLYSIS
SYNTHESIS
TAR
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
WOOD
YIELDS