Title: Conversion of Glucose and Xylose to 5-Hydroxymethyl furfural, Furfural, and Levulinic Acid Using Ethanol Organosolv Pretreatment under Various Conditions
Abstract: The objective of this study was to understand the conversion characteristics of glucose and xylose using the major monosaccharide standards for lignocellulosic biomass.The acid-catalyzed organosolv pretreatment conducted using ethanol was significantly different from the acid-catalyzed process conducted in an aqueous medium.5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF), levulinic acid and furfural were produced from glucose conversion.The maximum yield of 5-HMF was 5.5%, at 200℃, when 0.5% sulfuric acid was used.The maximum yield of levulinic acid was 21.5%, at 220℃, when 1.0% sulfuric acid was used.Furfural was produced from xylose conversion and under 0.5% sulfuric acid, furfural reached the maximum yield 48.5% at 210℃.Ethyl levulinate and methyl levulinate were also formed from the glucose standard following the esterification reaction conducted under conditions of the combined conversion method, which proceeded under both ethanol-rich and water-rich conditions.