title: Pyrolysis of inulin, glucose, and fructose.
abstract: The pyrolytic behavior of inulin, a (2-->1)-linked fructofuranan, is described. Parallel investigations of the pyrolysis of glucose and of fructose were conducted to supplement the inulin results and to aid comparison with previous results from glucans. Effects of neutral and basic additives are emphasized. As with glucans, the addition of such additives (especially basic) increases the yields of the one-, two-, and three-carbon products (as well as of hexosaccharinolactones), while generally decreasing the yields of anhydro sugar and furan derivatives. The former products include glycolaldehyde, acetol, dihydroxy-acetone, acetic acid, formic acid, and lactic acid. Mechanistic speculations are made regarding the origins of these compounds, as well as of furan derivatives and saccharinic acid lactones. Parallels with alkaline degradation are considered.
authors.affiliation: Wood Chemistry Laboratory, University of Montana, Missoula 59812.
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Ponder
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Richards
mesh_terms: D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D004098:Dihydroxyacetone / Q000737:chemistry; D005632:Fructose / Q000737:chemistry*; D005663:Furans / Q000737:chemistry; D005947:Glucose / Q000737:chemistry*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007444:Inulin / Q000737:chemistry*; D007773:Lactates / Q000737:chemistry; D019344:Lactic Acid; D007783:Lactones / Q000737:chemistry; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D013400:Sugar Acids / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D005663:Furans; D007773:Lactates; D007783:Lactones; D013400:Sugar Acids; D005632:Fructose; D019344:Lactic Acid; D007444:Inulin; D005947:Glucose; D004098:Dihydroxyacetone