Effects of Various Solvent on Precipitation of Phenolated Products from Japanese Beech as Treated by Subcritical Phenol

摘要

Liquefaction of Japanese beech (Fagus crenata) in subcritical phenol was investigated using a batch-type reaction vessel, and the treated sample was fractionated into phenol-soluble portion and phenol-insoluble residues. It was then, found that at 270°C/1.8 MPa/3 min, the lignin was almost decomposed and liquefied as phenol-soluble portion, whereas almost all of the cellulose and a majority of hemicelluloses remained in the phenol-insoluble residue. For the phenol-soluble portion, it was further treated with various solvents in order to precipitate the liquefied products. Based on the solubility parameters of solvents, the diethyl ether was emerged as the best solvent with the highest yield of precipitates, and precipitates were found to be mainly lignin phenolated. The obtained phenolated lignin would have a high potential for its various applications.