Catalytic hydrothermal treatment of pine wood biomass:: effect of RbOH and CsOH on product distribution

Low-temperature hydrothermal treatment of pine wood biomass was performed in the presence of RbOH and CsOH catalysts (280 degrees C for 15 min). The effect of the catalysts on the distribution of products and the volatility distribution of oxygenated hydrocarbons was studied in detail. Oxygenated hydrocarbons were extracted from the liquid and solid portions and analysed individually by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Catalytic (RbOH and CsOH) hydrothermal treatment of wood biomass produced mainly phenolic compounds and benzenediol derivatives. The use of RbOH and CsOH catalysts hindered the formation of char and favoured the formation of oil products, as observed previously for various other base catalysts. The volatility distribution of hydrocarbons (ether extract) was characterised by carbon-normal paraffin (C-NP) gram and it was found that the oxygenated hydrocarbons from all runs, including thermal, were distributed in the boiling point region of n-C-6 to n-C-17. (c) 2005 Society of Chemical Industry.