Hydrolysis, Alcoholysis, Thermolysis, and Degradation Reactions

The most efficient method for the clean hydrolysis of sucrose is by the use of invertase, leading to an equimolar mixture of glucose and fructose (invert sugar). The presence of salts increases the rate of thermal degradation of sucrose.337 The reaction is also possible in the presence of such heterogeneous acidic catalysts as zeolites.338 The hydrolysis of the glycosidic bond is the first step of a number of subsequent reactions that can occur on the glucose and fructose residues, such as dehydrations, combinations with amino acids (Maillard reaction), and many other chemicals or fermentation processes.339 

Among the important processes taking place when sucrose is heated is cara-melization. Caramel is actually a very complex mixture. Some constituents are volatile, such as furan derivatives, pyrones, aldehydes, and low molecular weight carboxylic acids, and these account for 10% of the mass.340 The main constituents of the nonvolatile component have also been identified these include 

Depending on the process (acid- or base-catalyzed, leading to aromatic or color caramel) and on the particular sugar substrate (sucrose, fructose), different proportions and types of these molecules can be found.291 Some of the caramel components are similar to those observed when fructose and sucrose react in hydrogen fluoride, notably bisglycosylated difructose dianhydrides.287 341 

Some of these processes can be controlled and used for the preparation of chemicals of industrial interest, such as 5-(hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde, HMF). HMF is the product of a triple dehydration of fructose, which is itself one of the first degradation products of sucrose. The preparation and the uses of HMF have been extensively studied and reviewed by Lichtenthaler.342 It can be obtained under various degradative conditions, including acid catalysis and catalysis by lanthanide ions.343 Processes for the production of HMF on the multi-ton scale have been developed as well as many uses, notably polycondensations.344,345 The polymerization of HMF has been shown to produce complex 

Stepwise degradation of sugars under catalytic conditions leads to shorter-chain sugars and such by-products as CO, C02, and H20 depending on the conditions (see also next section).348 Sucrose or other carbohydrates have been used for the preparation of new solid acidic catalysts by partial carbonization followed by sulfonation. This leads to sheets of amorphous carbon bearing hydroxyl, carboxyl, and sulfonic groups. These have been used for the production of biodiesel fuel.349 

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