Reaction Mechanism of Sugar Derivatives in Subcritical and Supercritical Water

Abstract

For development of a process of recovering chemicals from biomass by using supercritical water as a reactor solvent, a mechanistic study has been conducted for the reaction of ^D-glucose and ^D-fructose in sub-and supercritical water. A series of experiments was conducted over wide ranges of reaction temperature (350-450°C), pressure (25-40MPa), and reaction times (0.02-1.02s) with a flow type rector. As a result, we found that the contribution of retro-aldol condensation became predminonant at higher temperatures, while that of dehydration reaction (formation of furan derivatives) became significant at lower temperatures. In supercritical condition, retro-aldol condensation became essential for reducing reaction pressure, against the dehydration reaction.