A Kinetic Interpretation of Autohydrolysis of Mixed Southern Hardwood Chips in a Pilot Scale Reactor

Woody biomass is an important sustainable carrier of chemicals , materials and energy for humanity. Selectively extracting five carbon sugars from woody biomass is an intelligent choice for bioconversion of woody biomass. Mixed southern hardwood chips were loaded in a pilot-scale reactor of 1.84 m3. Tap water was filled into the reactor after woodchips were loaded. The reactor contents were then heated by circulating the water in the reactor with a heat-exchanger using steam as heating medium. As temperature was raised , liquid samples were also collected. Liquor pH decreases as reaction time is extended reaching a plateau of about 3.5. Xylose , glucose , mannose , galactose , arabinose and rhamnose are found in the liquor along with their oligomers. The reaction can be described by a first order kinetics. Odexlims was utilized to evaluate the kinetic parameters for this complex non-isothermal reaction process.