A kinetic model for production of glucose by hydrolysis of levoglucosan and cellobiosan from pyrolysis oil

Anhydro sugars, produced during wood pyrolysis, can by hydrolyzed to sugars under acidic conditions. The acid hydrolysis of two common anhydro sugars in wood pyrolysis oils, levoglucosan (1,6-anhydro-β-d-glucopyranose) and cellobiosan (β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-1,6-anhydro-d-glucopyranose), was investigated. Levoglucosan hydrolysis to glucose follows a first-order reaction, with an activation energy of 114 kJ mol−1. For cellobiosan hydrolysis, 44% of the cellobiosan is hydrolyzed initially via the β−(1→4) glycosidic bond to form levoglucosan and glucose. The remaining cellobiosan is hydrolyzed initially at the 1,6 anhydro bond to form cellobiose. Both reactions are first order with respect to cellobiosan, with an activation energy of 99 kJ mol−1. The intermediate levoglucosan and cellobiose are hydrolyzed to glucose.

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