Thermodynamics of hydrolysis of cellulose to glucose from 0 to 100 °C: Cellulosic biofuel applications and climate change implications

Hydrolysis of cellulose to glucose is a key reaction in renewable energy from biomass and in mineralization of soil organic matter to CO2. Conditional thermodynamic parameters, Delta(hyd)G', Delta H-hyd', and Delta S-hyd', and equilibrium glucose concentrations are reported for the reaction C6H10O5(cellulose) + H2O(l) reversible arrow C6H12O6(aq) as functions of temperature from 0 to 100 degrees C. Activity coefficients of aqueous glucose solution were determined as a function of temperature. The reaction free energy Delta(hyd)G' becomes more negative as temperature increases, suggesting that producing cellulosic biofuels at higher temperatures will result in higher conversion. Also, cellulose is a major source of carbon in soil and is degraded by soil microorganisms into CO2 and H2O. Therefore, global warming will make this reaction more rapid, leading to more CO2 and accelerated global warming by a positive feedback. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd.