Abstract
The decomposition of cellobiose (CB) under moderate hydrothermal conditions is studied experimentally using microtubular and pilot-scale flow reactors. The conversion of CB and formation of products, including cellobiulose, glucose, fructose, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, and 2-furfural, are quantified, accounting for more than 70% of the initial carbon. Organic acids, such as formic, succinic, glycolic, and acetic acids, are identified. The measured proton concentration increases with CB conversion up to 90% in a manner consistent with the formation of a notional acid with a yield of 0.49 ± 0.11 mol of acid/mol of CB decomposed and pKa = 3.33 ± 0.11. Slow ongoing formation of acids occurs after CB is substantially depleted (X > 90%). The rate of CB decomposition is increased only slightly in the presence of added formic acid, but the selectivity of glucose is enhanced significantly. A thermodynamically consistent kinetic model (40 reversible steps) is developed using reaction pathways, thermodynamics, and kin...
Published Version
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