Dilute Acid Hydrolysis of Concentrated Hot-Water Extract

A study on the conversion of concentrated wood extracts to platform chemicals has been carried out in different reactors. It is found that higher acid concentration and higher temperature releases more xylose monomers in a comparatively shorter period of reaction time. The optimal hydrolysis condition of concentrated hot-water extract of sugar maple can be chosen for the largest available xylose concentration as one of the following:

1) If acid hydrolysis is performed at atmospheric pressure, the most available hydrolysis condition is to add 6.2% (wt) sulfuric acid and keep temperature at 105°C for 20min.

2) If the autoclave is used as reactor and the least acid addition is desirable, the best hydrolysis condition is to add 1.0% sulfuric acid and keep temperature at 135°C for 30min.