Quantitative Studies on Furfural and Organic Acid Formation during Hydrothermal, Acidic and Alkaline Degradation of D-Xylose

Article abstract of DOI:10.1007/BF00816848

Chromatographic analysis of the degradation of D-xylose either in plain water or aqueous sulfuric acid at temperatures ranging from 180 - 220 deg C gave up to 50 molpercent of furfural.Activation energies did not differ significantly between reactions in plain water (Ea = 119.4 kJ/mol), 0.001 M H2SO4 (Ea = 120.6 kJ/mol), 0.01 M H2SO4 (Ea = 130.8 kJ/mol), and 0.1 M H2SO4 (Ea = 120.7 kJ/mol)However, under alkaline conditions the activation energy was only 63.7 kJ/mol, indicating a different reaction mechanism.Isotachophoretic analyses revealed the formation of pyruvic, formic, glcolic, lactic, and acetic acid.While the relative yields of these acids ranged from 0.8 to 7percent under hydrothermal and acidid conditions, 10 - 23percent were obtained in alkaline degradation. Keywords.D-xylose; Furfural; Organic acids; Isotachophoresis.