Carbon-13 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Study of the Rapid Steam Hydrolysis of Read Oak

The extent of hydrolysis of aryl-alkyl ether linkages by rapid steam hydrolysis (RASH) of red oak is characterized by 13C NMR using cross polarization and magic-angle spinning. The NMR spectra of the RASH products show evidence of the removal of hemicelluloses. The NMR spectrum of the solid isolated from the steam condensate is compared with the spectrum of HCl lignin prepared from red oak. The 13C spectrum of steam condensate lignin shows evidence of extensive depolymerization.