Chemical conversion of wood by treatment in a semi-batch reactor with subcritical water

Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) wood meal was extracted with subcritical water in a semi-batch reactor. About 70–90% by weight of the sugi wood meal was converted into water-soluble compounds. The main components of the water-soluble compounds were monosaccharides and oligosaccharides, as a result of hydrolysis of cellulose and hemicellulose. White precipitates appeared in the solution after settling for 48 h. X-ray diffractometry clearly showed that precipitates had crystallized into cellulose II. High yield of total saccharides (including the precipitates) was obtained at 310–320 °C, 25 MPa and 65 g min−1 water flow rate from a wood meal charge of 2.0 g, while the decomposition reaction was completed within about 20 min. Moreover, the yield increased to more than 60% when the wood meal was pretreated for improved wettability. It is shown that saccharides can be produced from sugi wood powder quickly and effectively by treatment in subcritical water.