Effective degradation of cellulose by Microwave irradiation in alkaline solution

Lignocellulose biomass effectively produces chemicals and fuels, which are of importance for the establishment of a sustainable society. The conversion of cellulose, the main component of the biomass, into significant precursors that can be further converted to different chemicals or fuels under gentle conditions is a promising route. Organic acids such as acetic, glycolic and formic acid are significant examples. A novel method to produce important platform chemicals from micro-crystalline cellulose (MCC) was developed. MCC was degraded as a result of oxidation with potassium chlorate by microwave radiation in a one-pot procedure. Efficient reaction conditions such as short reaction time and full conversion of cellulose were identified. The reaction products were analyzed by ¹H and ¹³C NMR, XPS, TGA and XRD.