NONFERMENTABLE, GLUCOSE-CONTAINING PRODUCTS FORMED FROM GLUCOSE UNDER CELLULOSE ACID HYDROLYSIS CONDITIONS*

Solutions of D-glucose in dilute sulfuric acid were allowed to react under time and temperature conditions which simulated the production of glucose from cellulose. Under these conditions, glucose undergoes a number of reactions including isomerization, dehydration, transglycosidation, polymerization, and anhydride formation. The specific interest in this report was to investigate the reversible reactions which form ''reversion products''. These products, which include di- and tri-saccharides, anhydrides, and glucosides, provide a protection for glucose from decomposition, but the products are not fermentable. The reactions were studied at 180 and 230/sup 0/C for various times and concentrations. The products were categorized as reducing or nonreducing, and the total glucose produced by secondary hydrolysis from the nonfermentable products was determined. Depending on conditions, these products may constitute more than 20% of the potentially available glucose. A preliminary study was made on D-xylose, which will form reversion products at xylose concentrations above 20%. 17 references, 2 figures, 6 tables.