Dilute Acid Pretreatment of Corncob for Efficient Sugar Production

• Published in: Applied biochemistry and biotechnology Vol. 163; no. 5; pp. 658 - 668
• Main Authors: Wang, G. S, Lee, Jae-Won, Zhu, J. Y, Jeffries, Thomas W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York New York : Humana Press Inc 01.03.2011; Humana Press Inc; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acetates - chemistry; Biochemistry; Biodiesel fuels; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Biotechnology - methods; Carbohydrates - chemistry; Cellulose; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Energy consumption; Enzymes; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Furans - chemistry; Glucose - chemistry; Pressure vessels; Sugar; Thermal energy; Xylose - chemistry; Zea mays - chemistry; Inhibitors; Pretreatment; Corncob; Cellulosic ethanol; Enzymatic hydrolysis; Hydrolysis; Ethanol; Cellulose; Production; Inhibitor; Sugar
• ISSN: 0273-2289; 1559-0291
• DOI: 10.1007/s12010-010-9071-4

Aqueous dilute acid pretreatments of corncob were conducted using cylindrical pressure vessels in an oil bath. Pretreatments were conducted in a temperature range of 160-190 °C with acid-solution-to-solid-corncob ratio of 2. The acid concentration (v/v) in the pretreatment solution was varied from 0% to 0.7%, depending on temperature. This gives acid charge on ovendry-weight corncob of 0-2.58%. It was found that optimal pretreatment temperature is between 160 and 170 °C based on total xylose and glucose yields and thermal energy consumption in pretreatment. At 170 °C and acid charge of 2.2% on cob, total glucose yield and xylose recovery were 97% and 75%, respectively, which resulted in an overall monomeric sugar recovery of about 88%. Xylose concentration in the hydrolysate was about 12%, with xylose-to-acetic-acid ratio of 8 and to furan (furfural and hydroxymethylfurfural) of about 15.