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 process comprises dissolving the polysaccharides in an 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 process comprises a dehydration step in which sugar alcohols are converted to the corresponding (di) anhydro sugars. The dehydration step is carried out in the substantial absence of transition metal salts.