Subcritical Water Reaction Behavior of D-Glucose as a Model Compound for Biomass Using Two Different Continuous-Flow Reactor Configurations

Recently, cellulosic materials have been considered as a useful resource for the recovery of valuable chemicals and liquid fuels, etc. Cellulose is a homopolymer Of D-glucose, which is often used as a model compound for biomass. Reactions of D-glucose in subcritical water as the reaction solvent were conducted using a single-flow-type reactor (SI) and an admixture-type reactor with feed and preheated-water flow (S2) at temperatures from 200 to 240 degrees C, pressures from 15 to 20 MPa, residence times from 40 to 120 s, and initial feed concentrations of 1.5-10 Wt %. D-Glucose was converted into aldehydes, organic acids and furans, with mainly organic acids obtained at 240 degrees C. D-Glucose decomposition using reactors S1 and S2 revealed that the conversion rate Of D-glucose was promoted more using S2 than by S1. The yield of furans with S1 was higher than with S2, while the yield of organic acids from S1 was lower than that from S2.