Degradation Kinetics of Beech Wood and its Components Cellulose, Lignin and D-Xylose at HTC Conditions

Usage of renewable resources is of growing importance. To avoid the conflict of growing food vs. energy plants, organic wastes have to be used. The hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a simple process to gain dry and energy-rich biochar especially from wet biomass. By determining the degradation kinetics of the three biomass components cellulose, D-xylose and lignin, the reaction behavior could be determined and was validated against a real biomass (beech wood).