Thermochemical transformation of glucose to 1,6-anhydroglucose in high-temperature steam

An aqueous solution of glucose was reacted at temperatures from 200 to 400 °C under atmospheric pressure using a continuous flow reactor. For reaction temperatures above 300 °C, the liquid product yield was not sensitive to the temperature change; on the other hand, below 300 °C, it decreased rapidly with decreasing temperature. 1,6-Anhydro-β-d-glucopyranose (AGP) and 1,6-anhydro-β-d-glucofuranose (AGF) were the major components in the liquid product. The yields of AGP and AGF were 40% and 19%, respectively, at 360 °C and a feed rate of 0.5 mL/min. The optimum space time to produce AGP and AGF was about 0.2–0.4 s under the present temperature conditions.

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