Effect of structure on hydrolysis of cellulose
The acid and the enzymatic hydrolyses of cellulose are discussed with respect to the crystallite structures of the polymer. For acid hydrolysis, the catalytic hydrogen ions can penetrate the amorphous areas of cellulose so that the initial chain scissions take place preferentially in these areas to give a rapid drop in chain length and then level-off at the crystallite level. Further degradation proceeds randomly on the surfaces of the crystallite and an initial weight loss can be attributed to the dissolution of oligomers into the reaction medium. The bulky size of the enzyme hinders the substrate penetration. The mode of degradation can be very different from the acid. For native cellulose whose crystalline order is generally high, a limited C/sub x/ activity had been observed. The rapid drop in chain length was observed only for the swollen cellulose. The crystallite structure in the latter may be opened up by the swelling pretreatment. Interpretations based on both the fringe-micellar model and the folding chain model are given to these experimental observations. In all cases, the folding chain model appears to be a competent model.
- Research Organization:
- Purdue Univ., Lafayette, IN (USA). Lab. of Renewable Resources Engineering
- DOE Contract Number:
- AS02-76ER02755
- OSTI ID:
- 5141334
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-791108-26
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Cellulose Hydrolysis in Acidified LiBr Molten Salt Hydrate Media
Modelling Heterogeneity in Cellulose Properties Predicts the Slowdown Phenomenon during Enzymatic Hydrolysis
Related Subjects
140504* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Biomass Production & Conversion-- (-1989)
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400301 -- Organic Chemistry-- Chemical & Physicochemical Properties-- (-1987)
ACID HYDROLYSIS
CARBOHYDRATES
CELLULOSE
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
DECOMPOSITION
ENZYMATIC HYDROLYSIS
HYDROLYSIS
KINETICS
LYSIS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MOLECULAR MODELS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLYSACCHARIDES
REACTION KINETICS
SACCHARIDES
SOLVOLYSIS