Evaluation of organosolv pretreatment on the enzymatic digestibility of coconut coir fibers and bioethanol production via simultaneous saccharification and fermentation

• Published in: Renewable energy Vol. 109; pp. 41 - 48
• Main Authors: Ebrahimi, Majid, Caparanga, Alvin R., Ordono, Emma E., Villaflores, Oliver B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2017
• Subjects: Acidified glycerol pretreatment; Coconut coir fibers; Glucan digestibility; Lignin removal; SSF; Lignin removal; Coconut coir fibers; Acidified glycerol pretreatment; Glucan digestibility; SSF
• ISSN: 0960-1481; 1879-0682
• DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2017.03.011

Coconut coir fibers, which analyzed 34.8% glucan, 18.3% xylan, 35.8% lignin and 8.7% extractives, were pretreated with acidified aqueous glycerol (10% water) at a solid/liquid ratio loading of 1:20 and 1:30, a temperature of 130 °C and 60,30, and 15 min contact time. The maximum yield of glucan digestibility was 79.7% and 81.8% for the respective solid/liquid ratios for 30 min of pretreatment. The simultaneous saccharification and fermentation was conducted anaerobically at 37 °C with Saccharomyces cerevisiae, 5% w/v glucan, and 10 FPU/g glucan of cellulase. The highest ethanol concentrations obtained after 3 days of incubation from pretreated coconut coir fiber were 8.97 and 8.81 g/L, respectively, for the samples pretreated with acidified aqueous glycerol at 1:30 and 1:20 solid/liquid loading ratio for 30 min. [Display omitted] •Acidified organosolv solvent pretreatment was performed on coconut coir fibers.•Non-acid-catalyzed AG treatment resulted in low lignin removal and glucan digestibility.•AAG treatment with S/L ratio of 1:20 and 1:30 improved glucan digestibility to 81.8%.•8.97 g/L and 8.81 g/L of ethanol obtained from SSF under anaerobic condition.