Studies on the Processing Conditions for Preparation of Polyol Using Beet Pulp

The catalyzed liquefaction degradation of beet pulp (BP) had been studied in the system of solid silicotungstic acid and polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG400)/glycerol (GLY), in which the solid silicotungstic acid served as the catalyst, and the latter was the complex liquefacient. This paper investigated the influence of processing conditions of BP liquefaction on the liquefaction reaction and the properties of liquefaction product. The results showed that BP had a good liquefaction effect, and the optimum liquefaction processing conditions were founded as follows: the weight ratio of PEG 400/glycerol was 4:1, the liquefaction temperature was 175oC, the catalyst amount was 8%wt, the solid-liquid weight ratio was 1:12, and the liquefaction time was 135 min. In these conditions, it was found that the best liquefaction rate would reach 99.5%, the hydroxyl and acid values of liquefaction mixtures were 52-82mg/g and 0.61-0.75mg/g respectively, the final products were lower hydroxyl value plant-based polyol.