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Direct Microwave-Assisted Hydrothermal Depolymerization of Cellulose

Schnelle und effiziente chemische Synthese in der Mikrowelle

A systematic investigation of the interaction of microwave irradiation with microcrystalline cellulose has been carried out, covering a broad temperature range (150 → 270 °C). A variety of analytical techniques (e.g., HPLC, ¹³C NMR, FTIR, CHN analysis, hydrogen–deuterium exchange) allowed for the analysis of the obtained liquid and solid products. Based on these results a mechanism of cellulose interaction with microwaves is proposed. Thereby the degree of freedom of the cellulose enclosed CH₂OH groups was found to be crucial. This mechanism allows for the explanation of the different experimental observations such as high efficiency of microwave treatment; the dependence of the selectivity/yield of glucose on the applied microwave density; the observed high glucose to HMF ratio; and the influence of the degree of cellulose crystallinity on the results of the hydrolysis process. The highest selectivity toward glucose was found to be ∼75% while the highest glucose yield obtained was 21%.

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