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Official Journal of the Japan Wood Research Society

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Liquefaction of beech wood in various supercritical alcohols

Abstract

The liquefaction of Japanese beech (Fagus crenata Blume) was studied with various straight-chain alcohols in subcritical and supercritical states using a batch-type reaction vessel to obtain liquid fuel from lignocellulosics. Under the reaction condition of 270°C, beech wood was liquefied to some extent in all alcohols with about 50%–65% insoluble residue left after treatment for 30min. Under the condition of 350°C, however, more than 90% of wood was decomposed and liquefied in all alcohols. Alcohols with longer alkyl chains liquefied lignocellulosics in shorter reaction times. Because many kinds of alcohols, such as methanol and ethanol, can be produced from biomass, 100% biomass-based liquid fuel can be prepared by supercritical alcohol technology when using such bioalcohols.

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Correspondence to Shiro Saka.

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Yamazaki, J., Minami, E. & Saka, S. Liquefaction of beech wood in various supercritical alcohols. J Wood Sci 52, 527–532 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10086-005-0798-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10086-005-0798-4

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