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Process developments in the acid hydrolysis of cellulose

Thesis/Dissertation ·
OSTI ID:5351500
A continuous countercurrent reactor was designed, constructed and operated to investigate its potential for acid hydrolysis of cellulosic materials. The diffusional influence was found to reduce reactor yield considerably. Therefore, a model was developed to account for the effect of glucose diffusion in the acid hydrolysis of wood chips in a counter current reactor. Fundamental studies were also conducted pertaining to diffusion of glucose through wood chips. Specifically, the effect of prehydrolysis, cellulose acid hydrolysis, temperature and the grain direction were investigated. The diffusivity was found to be a strong function of temperature and extent of cellulose conversion. It was correlated to the absolute temperature by an Arrhenius type of equation. Diffusivity was found to increase rapidly after 40-60% conversion of cellulose. The diffusional influence was analyzed quantitatively in terms of Thiele modulus and Effectiveness factor using data collected in diffusion experiments for thin and thick chips. Both these parameters were found to vary during the course of acid hydrolysis. A linear relationship was found between these parameters and the extent of cellulose conversion. The effectiveness factor approached unity as cellulose approached 100% for both thin and thick chips.
Research Organization:
Auburn Univ., AL (USA)
OSTI ID:
5351500
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English