CELLULOSE HYDROLYSIS USING ZINC-CHLORIDE AS A SOLVENT AND CATALYST

Cellulose gel with <10% of crystallinity was prepared by treatment of microcrystalline cellulose, Avicel, with zinc chloride solution at a r atio of zinc chloride to cellulose from 1.5 to 18 (w/w). The presence of zinc ions in the cellulose gels enhanced the rate of hydrolysis and glucose yield. The evidence obtained from X-ray diffraction, iodine a bsorption experiments; and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectra analysis suggested the presence of zinc-cellulose complex after Avicel was tre ated with zinc chloride. Zinc-cellulose complex was more susceptible t o hydrolysis than amorphous cellulose. Under the experimental conditio n, cellulose gels with zinc ions were hyrolyzed to glucose with 95% th eoretical yield and a concentration of 14% (w/v) by cellulases within 20 h. The same gel was hydrolyzed by acid to glucose with 91.5% yield and a concentration of 13.4% (w/v).