The mechanisms of hydrothermal deconstruction of lignocellulose: New insights from thermal-analytical and complementary studies

► Thermal analysis provides real-time data on hydrothermal reactions under realistic conditions. ► From DSC, hemicellulose hydrolysis has low enthalpy change but xylose degradation is exothermic. ► Hydrothermal exothermic degradation reactions may be similar to early stage biomass pyrolysis. ► DMTA shows that the polymeric structure of lignin in biomass is degraded at high temperatures. ► Hydrothermal reactions are effective at greater than 50% solids content.