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Scientia Silvae Sinicae ›› 2014, Vol. 50 ›› Issue (11): 115-121.doi: 10.11707/j.1001-7488.20141116

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Rapid Wood Liquefaction with Phenol by Microwave Heating and Product Characterization

Li Gaiyun, Zhu Xianchao, Zou Xianwu, Xiang Qin, He Yuchan   

  1. Research Institute of Wood Industry, CAF Beijing 100091
  • Received:2013-12-17 Revised:2014-04-24 Online:2014-11-25 Published:2014-12-04

Abstract:

A method for fast poplar wood liquefaction in phenol by using microwave energy was successfully developed. The optimum conditions for microwave-assisted poplar wood liquefaction in phenol are as follows: moisture content 30%-40%, reaction time 15 min, phenol to wood (P/W) ratio 2.5, wood powder diameter 0.18-0.25 mm, and liquefaction yield 87%. It was proved that microwave improved the liquefaction rate at least 6 times faster than conventional heating. Wood was degraded to low molecular weight substances including alcohols, acids, ether, aldehyde and phenolic compounds. Viscosity of liquefied wood products was remarkably decreased from 8 250 mPa·s to 3 015 mPa·s. And 100 g of liquefied wood reacted with about 2.1 mol of formaldehyde. There were only seven main conpounds, including phenol, 2,3-butanediol, 1,2-propanediol, 2-ethoxy-propane, 1,1-diethoxy-ethane, diisopropyl formal and 12-crown-4 in diethyl ether-soluble portions from liquefied wood products. It was concluded that the reaction mechanism was somewhat different between microwave-assisted and traditional wood phenolation. Cellulose and hemicellulose were firstly degraded into monosaccharides. And monosaccharides could be further cracked into 2, 3- butanediol, 1, 2-propanediol, ethylene glycol and ethanedial, and so on. These substances reacted with each other and converted to 2-ethoxy-propane, 1, 1-diethoxy-ethane, diisopropyl formal and 12-crown-4.

Key words: microwave heating, poplar, phenolation, product characterization

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