A STUDY ON CATALYTIC HYDROLYSIS OF PEAT

Jiao He peat was used. The effects of reaction time, ratio of liquid t o solid, reaction temperature, acid concentration and catalyst on sacc harification of peat with a high content of hemicellulose were studied under atmospheric and elevated pressures. The sugar yield from a one- stage hydrolysis of peat was compared with that from a two-stage hydro lysis. The results showed that a high yield of sugar could be obtained , with catalysts FeCl3 and HCl and under atmospheric pressure, from hy drolysis of peat with a high content of hemicellulose. The optimum con ditions were as follows: pear particle size 100 mesh, reaction tempera ture 100 degrees C, acid concentration 1.0-1.5%, FeCl3 concentration 1 .5-2.0%, ratio of liquid to solid 10.5-12.0, and reaction rime 80-100 min. Under such conditions about 70% of the substance which could be h ydrolyzed was converted to sugar. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.