Hydrothermal conversion of glucose in a batch reactor. A detailed study of an experimental key-parameter: The heating time

In this study, conversions of an aqueous solution of glucose (2 wt%) were performed at 370 degrees C and 25 MPa in subcritical water during different heating times. The original batch reactor used for this study allowed the introduction of the glucose solution directly in the hot and compressed aqueous medium. In this work, an original analytical approach combining chromatographic (SEC, GC, HPLC) and mass spectrometric techniques (FT-ICR/MS) has been also developed in order to provide more information about the chemical and molecular weights polydispersity of the products. From our experiments, it has been shown that the glucose conversion occurs via a complex reaction pathway implying competitive fragmentation and condensation reactions. Yields of product resulting from condensation reactions can be limited mainly by both short heating time and reaction time. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.