Selective hydrolysis of cellulose to glucose without degradation of glucose using zinc chloride

摘要

Cellulose is selectively hydrolyzed to glucose without the formation of degradation by-products by pretreating the cellulose to form soluble cellodextrins through treatment with concentrated (60-80%) solutions of zinc chloride. Zinc chloride is then separated from the mixture by extraction with attendant precipitation of the cellodextrin material which is the hydrolyzed, chemically or enzymatically to glucose.