Biomass hydrolysis with phosphotungstic acid

In this study, the effect of phosphotungstic acid on the biomass hydrolysis was investigated. Hydrolysis experiments were carried out in four different concentration ranges (1–4%) and at two different temperatures (200 and 250 °C) in the batch reactor. Biomass hydrolysis was investigated by determining the total organic carbon content and polysaccharides average molecular weights of hydrolysates. The hydrolysis efficiency and total organic carbon content increased with increasing phosphotungstic acid percentage, while polysaccharides average molecular weights were decreased at 200 °C. Increase of temperature in the presence of solid acid catalyst caused a significant increase on the biomass hydrolysis percentage.