Effects of inorganic acid catalysts on liquefaction of wood in phenol

Abstract

In order to obtain the effects of acid catalysts on wood liquefaction in phenol, we investigated the liquefaction of wood powder from Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) and poplar (Triploid Populus tomentosa Carr) in the presence of phenol with the following weak inorganic acids as catalysts: phosphoric acid (85%), sulfuric acid (36%), hydrochloric acid (37%) and oxalic acid (99.5%). Results show that phosphoric acid (85%) and sulfuric acid (36%) are better than the other catalysts. It was found that lower residue ratios can be obtained under defined reaction conditions: phenol/wood ratio is 4, a 10% catalyst based on the weight of phenol, a temperature of 150vH for 2 h and phosphoric or sulfuric acid. The residue ratios are 3.2% and 4.0%, respectively.