Degradation kinetics of the main carbohydrates in birch wood during hot water extraction in a batch reactor at elevated temperatures

► Acetic acid recovered exceeds the corresponding amount of acetyl groups in wood. ► Furfural formed during hot water extractions of wood does not appear to degrade. ► The maximum furfural content decreases with increasing extraction temperature. ► Degradation and conversion of xylan and glucan are successfully modeled.