Microwave pyrolysis of cellulosic materials for the production of anhydrosugars

Abstract

Large-scale microwave rapid pyrolysis of cellulosic materials has been investigated. Levoglucosan (1,6-anhydro-β-D-glucopyranose) was obtained from a larch log as the main anhydrosugar in 2.6% yield on the basis of dry wood weight. This yield would be much higher than that obtainable by conventional pyrolysis in the large-scale reaction. Levoglucosenone (1,6-anhydro-3,4-dideoxy-β-D-glycero-hex-3-enopyranos-2-ulose) was found to be produced in one-quarter the amount of levoglucosan. Other anhydrosugars, such as mannosan (1,6-anhydro-β-D-mannopyranose), galactosan (1,6-anhydro-β-D-galactopyranose), and xylosan (1,4-anhydro-α-D-xylopyranose), were also confirmed to be produced as minor components depending on the proportion of the monosaccharide content in the larch. When microwave pyrolysis of used papers and filter papers was performed, the yields of levoglucosan were about 6% and 12%, respectively, suggesting that a higher content of cellulose gives a larger amount of levoglucosan. © The Japan Wood Research Society 2001.