ABSTRACT
Despite its chemical stability, cellulose can be degraded non-enzymatically by acids, alkalis, oxidants, thermal energy, mechanical means and radiations.
Like cellulases, acids catalyze the hydrolysis of the glycosidic linkages in cellulose. Acid hydrolysis of cellulose leads to high yields of glucose under certain conditions. [1] There are two acid hydrolysis processes commonly used for converting cellulosic biomass to ethanol: dilute acid hydrolysis and concentrated acid hydrolysis. [2, 3] Both technologies have long industrial histories. [4]
Alkalis also cause degradation of cellulose but with a completely different mode of action. Alkaline degradation occurs in two primary ways: endwise degradation (peeling) and alkaline hydrolysis of glycosidic bonds.
