Biomass pretreatment with water and high-pressure oxygen. The wet-oxidation process

A biomass pretreatment process called wet oxidation that utilized water, oxygen (240-480 psi), and temperatures above 120 degrees C was applied to loblolly pine, black oak, and a mixture of low-grade hardwoods. The process was found to be effective for fractionating the hemicellulose, lignin, and cellulose components of wood. Acid hydrolysis studies showed that the wet oxidation also enhanced the rate at which cellulose was hydrolyzed by acids to glucose. (Refs. 28).