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Official Journal of the Japan Wood Research Society

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Pyrolysis behavior of levoglucosan as an intermediate in cellulose pyrolysis: polymerization into polysaccharide as a key reaction to carbonized product formation

Abstract

Pyrolysis behavior of levoglucosan (1,6-anhydro-β-d-glucopyranose), the major anhydromonosaccharide formed during cellulose pyrolysis, was studied at 250°–400°C under nitrogen. The pyrolysis products were found to change stepwise: levoglucosan → MeOH-soluble fraction (lower-molecular-weight products and oligosaccharides) → water-soluble fraction (polysaccharides) → insoluble fraction (carbonized products). From the present experimental results, a pathway of cellulose pyrolysis via anhydromonosaccharide is proposed including polymerization to polysaccharides (a reversible reaction) as a key reaction to carbonized product formation.

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Correspondence to Haruo Kawamoto.

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Part of this study was presented at the XIXth International Carbohydrate Symposium, San Diego, August 1998; and the 50th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Kyoto, April 2000

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Kawamoto, H., Murayama, M. & Saka, S. Pyrolysis behavior of levoglucosan as an intermediate in cellulose pyrolysis: polymerization into polysaccharide as a key reaction to carbonized product formation. J Wood Sci 49, 469–473 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10086-002-0487-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10086-002-0487-5

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