Degradation of Cellulose to Organic Acids in its Homogeneous Alkaline Aqueous Solution

Conversion of cellulose to chemicals or fuels is the key point for the utilization of biomass to substitute for fossil resources. Here, a simple method has been developed to degrade the cellulose chains in its homogeneous solution in free of any noble or transition metal catalysts. The homogeneous alkaline aqueous solution of cellulose was prepared at first, and then it was hydrothermally degraded at 160-300 degrees C. Malonic acid (MA), lactic acid (LA), formic acid (FA), and acetic acid (AA) are the major valuable products, among them MA and LA are the top valuable platform molecules for synthesis of bulk chemicals and fuels. The maximum yield of MA is 39.7%, and the maximum total yield of the four kinds of organic acid is 81.2%. In addition, it is the first report that cellulose can be directly degraded to MA in a simple chemical route.