Carbohydrates dehydration reactions

Harris, J.F. "Acid Hydrolysis and Dehydration Reactions for Utilizing Plant Carbohydrates," Applied Polymer Symposium. 1975, 28, 131-144. 

The wood pyrolysis is attractive because forest and industrial wood residues can be readily converted into liqtrid products. These liqtrids, as erode bio-oil or slurry of charcoal of water or oil, have advantages in transport, storage, combustion, retrofitting and flexibility in production and marketing (Demirbas, 2007). In the first step of pyrolysis of carbohydrates dehydration occtrrs and at low temperatures dehydration predominates. Dehydration is also known as a char-forming reaction. Between 550 and 675 K volatile products, tar, and char are formed. The volatile products are CO, CO, H O, acetals, furfural, aldehydes and ketones. Levoglucosan is the principle component in tar. 

The dehydration reactions initiated by eliminating a hydroxyl group from an enediol are discussed in the present article. The products (usually dicarbonyl compounds) of these eliminations are normally transient intermediates, and undergo further reaction. The final products formed are determined by the carbohydrate reacting, the conditions of reaction, and the character of the medium. Except for a Section on analytical methods (see p. 218), the subject matter is restricted to aqueous acids and bases. The presence of compounds other than the carbohydrate under study has only been considered where it has helped to elucidate the mechanism involved. The approach here is critical and interpretative, with emphasis on mechanism. An attempt has been made to demonstrate how similar reactions can logically lead to the various products from different carbohydrates a number of speculative mechanisms are proposed. It is hoped that this treatment will emphasize the broad functions of these reactions, an importance that is not fully recognized. No claim is made for a complete coverage of the literature instead, discussion of results in the articles that best illustrate the principles involved has been included. 

Dehydration Reactions of Carbohydrates By Milton S. Feather and John F. Harris... 

Condensed-Phase Mechanisms. The mode of action of phosphorus-based flame retardants in cellulnsic sy stems is probably best understood. Cellulose decomposes by a noncalalyzed route lo tarry depolymerization products, notably levoglucosan, which then decomposes to volatile combustible fragments such as alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, and hydrocarbons. However, when catalyzed by acids, the decomposition of cellulose proceeds primarily as an endothermic dehydration of the carbohydrate to water vapor and char. Phosphoric acid is particularly efficaceous in this catalytic role because of its low volatility (see Phosphoric Acids and Phosphales). Also, when strongly heated, phosphoric acid yields polyphosphoric acid which is even more effective in catalyzing the cellulose dehydration reaction. The flame-retardanl action is believed to proceed by way of initial phosphory lation of the cellulose. 

Heating of carbohydrates produces a number of aromatic compounds Including aldehydes, ketones, and dicarbonyls as well as oxygen containing heterocyclic compounds such as furans, dihydrofuranones, and pyrans through caramelizatlon and dehydration reactions. 

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