Cellulosic biomass materials have three principal
components: cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Under
mild acid conditions and high temperature, the first two
components yield a variety of sugars: hexoses and pentoses,
which are subject to decomposition on continued exposure to
hot dilute acid. In the process hexoses yield
hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) which,...
Hemicellulose hydrolyzate contains many carbohydrate
fractions, the most abundant being xylose, arabinose, and
glucuronic acid. Under mild acid conditions (0.025 -
0.10 M sulfuric acid) and high temperatures (140°C to
200°C) the first two components form furfural through a
series of dehydration reactions. Unlike xylose and
arabinose, glucuronic acid must...