PROCESS FOR CONVERTING POLYSACCHARIDES IN AN INORGANIC MOLTEN SALT HYDRATE

摘要

A process is disclosed for converting polysaccharide-containing biomass material to platform chemicals. The biomass material preferably is sugar cane or sugar beet material. The process comprises dissolving the polysaccharides in a inorganic molten salt hydrate, converting the polysaccharides to monosaccharides, and converting the monosaccharides to platform chemicals that are easily separable from the inorganic molten salt hydrate. The step of converting the polysaccharides to monosaccharides is conducted in the substantial absence of mineral acid.