A study on catalytic hydrolysis of peat

Jiao He peat was used. The effects of reaction time, ratio of liquid to solid, reaction temperature, acid concentration and catalyst on saccharification of peat with a high content of hemicellulose were studied under atmospheric and elevated pressures. The sugar yield from a one-stage hydrolysis of peat was compared with that from a two-stage hydrolysis. The results showed that a high yield of sugar could be obtained, with catalysts FeCl3 and HCl and under atmospheric pressure, from hydrolysis of peat with a high content of hemicellulose. The optimum conditions were as follows: peat particle size 100 mesh, reaction temperature 100°C, acid concentration 1.0–1.5%, FeCl3 concentration 1.5 – 2.0%, ratio of liquid to solid 10.5 – 12.0, and reaction time 80 – 100 min. Under such conditions about 70% of the substance which could be hydrolyzed was converted to sugar.