Abstract: Furfural is produced from a xylan-containing lignocellulosic feedstock which is contacted with water in the presence of an acid catalyst. Specifically, the catalyst is sulfuric acid characterized by a room temperature pH in the range of about 0.2 to about 0.6. The use of sulfuric acid in place of phosphoric lowers costs and avoids the high viscosity of very low pH phosphoric acid.

Abstract: Furfural is produced from a lignocellulosic feedstock comprising glucan and xylan. The feedstock is contacted with water in the presence of an acid catalyst. The resulting mixture is contacted with at least one water-immiscible organic solvent to form a mixture comprising an aqueous phase and an organic phase. Under suitable reaction conditions, furfural is produced and preferentially partitions into the organic phase, from which it may be recovered.

Abstract: Nanoporous and mesoporous carbon materials are fabricated in a pyrolysis process in which a starting mixture including a carbonizing polymer and a pyrolyzing polymer are employed. In one instance, the carbonizing polymer and pyrolyzing polymer are joined together in the form of a block copolymer. In another instance, the carbonizing polymer is a polyfurfuryl alcohol and the pyrolyzing polymer is polyethylene glycol diacid. These two polymer materials are mixed together and not copolymerized. The pore structure of the material may be controlled by controlling the molecular weight of various of the polymer components.