A Kinetic Interpretation of Autohydrolysis of Mixed Southern Hardwood Chips in a Pilot Scale Reactor

Woody biomass is an important sustainable carrier of chemicals, materials and energy for humanity. Selectively extracting five carbon sugars from woody biomass is an intelligent choice for bioconversion of woody biomass. Mixed southern hardwood chips were loaded in a pilot-scale reactor of 1.84 m³. Tap water was filled into the reactor after woodchips were loaded. The reactor contents were then heated by circulating the water in the reactor with a heat-exchanger using steam as heating medium. As temperature was raised, liquid samples were also collected. Liquor pH decreases as reaction time is extended reaching a plateau of about 3.5. Xylose, glucose, mannose, galactose, arabinose and rhamnose are found in the liquor along with their oligomers. The reaction can be described by a first order kinetics. Odexlims was utilized to evaluate the kinetic parameters for this complex non-isothermal reaction process.