Production Behavior of Xylose and Xylooligosaccharides from Chinquapin Using a Hot-compressed-water Flow Reactor

Abstract

Hot-Compressed-Water (HCW) treatment of chinquapin, a hardwood, was performed using a percolation reactor. In this study, production behavior of xylose and xyloologosaccharides derived from hemicellulose in the chinquapin was investigated from the view point of pressure (5-20 MPa) and temperature (160-260°C) condition. The reaction temperature showed remarkable effect on the yields of xylose, xylobiose and xylotriose, while pressure had no effect on them. The yields of these three saccharides increased as the temperature became higher and peaked at 220°C. However at the temperature condition of 240°C, the yields of these three saccharides decreased, while glucose and cellobiose were obtained by hydrolysis of cellulose. By the IR analysis of Water solubles, it was confirmed that a part of lignin was solubilized together with hemicellulose in these experimental conditions.