Alkaline thermochemical degradation of cellulose to organic acids

Cellulose can be degraded entirely to water-soluble products in aqueous, alkaline solutions. The degradation process is described reasonably well by second-order kinetics, with the hydroxide ion concentration determined by the stoichiometry of cellulose conversion to organic acids. Formic, acetic, glycolic, and lactic acids are major products of alkaline cellulose degradation. Maximum total yield found was approximately 40% based on starting weight of celluose with 4% NaOH at 280 degrees C for 10 min. At 360 degrees C, the formic, glycolic, and lactic acid yields were significantly reduced, acetic acid yield increased, and ethanol, propanol, acetone, and 2-butanone appeared as new degradation products.