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Dilute acid hydrolysis of lignocellulosics: An application to medium consistency suspensions of hardwoods using a plug flow reactor
Author(s) -
Abatzoglou N.,
Koeberle P. G.,
Chornet E.,
Overend R. P.,
Koukios E. G.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
the canadian journal of chemical engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1939-019X
pISSN - 0008-4034
DOI - 10.1002/cjce.5450680414
Subject(s) - furfural , hydrolysis , chemistry , plug flow reactor model , chromatography , pulp and paper industry , plug flow , dilution , organic chemistry , chemical engineering , continuous stirred tank reactor , thermodynamics , engineering , catalysis , physics
Abstract A one‐stage process for the high temperature rapid dilute acid hydrolysis of hardwoods, to produce simultaneously furfural and fermentable sugars, is described. A continuous plug flow reactor unit designed to hydrolyse medium consistency wood suspensions (up to 13% w/w in solids) has been operated at capacities up to 90 kg/h, with temperatures ranging from 190°C to 240°C and 20‐120 s as residence times. The final products, mainly furfural and sugars, have been analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography. Yields of 15 kg of hexoses (30% of the theoretical potential) and 10 kg of furfural (65% of the theoretical potential) for 100 kg of sawdust (dry basis) have been obtained. Two pseudokinetic modeis were used to simulate the pentosan and hexosan acid hydrolysis reactions. A Flowtran Simulation has been conducted resulting in mass and energy balances for an eventual industrial unit.