title: Characterization of low molecular weight organic acids from beech wood treated in supercritical water.
abstract: Japanese beech (Fagus crenata Blume), its cell wall components, and model compounds were treated by supercritical water (380 degrees C, 100 MPa) for 5 s using a batch-type reactor to investigate the production behavior of low molecular weight organic acids. It was found that cellulose and hemicellulose were decomposed to formic acid, pyruvic acid, glycolic acid, acetic acid, and lactic acid, whereas lignin was barely decomposed to such organic acids under the given conditions. However, after prolonged treatment (380 degrees C, 100 MPa, 4 min) of lignin, some organic acids were recovered owing perhaps to the decomposition of the propyl side chain of lignin. It was additionally revealed that the predominant organic acid recovered was acetic acid, which might be derived from the acetyl group of hemicellulose in Japanese beech.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Energy Science, Kyoto University, Yoshida-honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 422, Japan.
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Junko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kusaki
authors.forename: Katsunobu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ehara
authors.forename: Shiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saka
mesh_terms: D000143:Acids / Q000032:analysis / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry*; D025924:Chromatography, Supercritical Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D029964:Fagus / Q000737:chemistry*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008031:Lignin / Q000737:chemistry*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000032:analysis / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry; D011312:Pressure; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D014934:Wood
chemical_list: D000143:Acids; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014867:Water; D002482:Cellulose; D008031:Lignin