Autohydrolysis of Arundo donax L., a kinetic assessment

Arundo donax L. was submitted to a process of isothermal autohydrolysis in the temperature range of 150-195 degrees C, for periods between 0 and 15 h and a liquid/solid ratio = 8 g g(-1), for the purpose of hydrolyzing the hemicelluloses to oligomers (compounds which are of interest to the food industry) and monomers. A conventional kinetic model was developed that explains the evolution over time of the hemicelluloses and hemicellulose degradation products. Kinetic modeling was also carried out using the severity factor approach and the kinetic parameters obtained in these two ways have been compared.