Acetic acid-and furfural-based adaptive evolution of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains for improving stress tolerance and lignocellulosic ethanol production

Acetic acid and furfural are known as prevalent inhibitors deriving from pretreatment during lignocellulosic ethanol production.They negatively impact cell growth,glucose uptake and ethanol biosynthesis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains.Development of industrial S.cerevisiae strains with high tolerance towards these inhibitors is thus critical for efficient lignocellulosic ethanol production.In this study,the acetic acid or furfural tolerance of different S.cerevisiae strains could be significantly enhanced after adaptive evolution via serial cultivation for 40 generations under stress conditions.The acetic acid-based adaptive strain SPSC01-TA9 produced 30.5 g·L^(-1)ethanol with a yield of 0.46 g·g^(-1)in the presence of 9 g·L^(-1)acetic acid,while the acetic acid/furfural-based adaptive strain SPSC01-TAF94 produced more ethanol of 36.2 g·L^(-1)with increased yield up to 0.49 g·g^(-1)in the presence of both 9 g·L^(-1)acetic acid and 4 g·L^(-1)furfural.Significant improvements were also observed during non-detoxified corn stover hydrolysate culture by SPSC01-TAF94,which achieved ethanol production and yield of 29.1 g·L^(-1)and 0.49 g·g^(-1),respectively,the growth and fermentation efficiency of acetic acid/furfural-based adaptive strain in hydrolysate was 95%higher than those of wildtype strains,indicating the acetic acid-and furfural-based adaptive evolution strategy could be an effective approach for improving lignocellulosic ethanol production.The adapted strains developed in this study with enhanced tolerance against acetic acid and furfural could be potentially contribute to economically feasible and sustainable lignocellulosic biorefinery.

Bacterial communities and enzyme activities during litter decomposition of Elymus nutans leaf on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

The dominant plant litter plays a crucial role in carbon(C)and nutrients cycling as well as ecosystem functions maintenance on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau(QTP).The impact of litter decomposition of dominant plants on edaphic parameters and grassland productivity has been extensively studied,while its decomposition processes and relevant mechanisms in this area remain poorly understood.We conducted a three-year litter decomposition experiment in the Gansu Gannan Grassland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station,an alpine meadow ecosystem on the QTP,to investigate changes in litter enzyme activities and bacterial and fungal communities,and clarify how these critical factors regulated the decomposition of dominant plant Elymus nutans(E.nutans)litter.The results showed that cellulose and hemicellulose,which accounted for 95%of the initial lignocellulose content,were the main components in E.nutans litter decomposition.The litter enzyme activities ofβ-1,4-glucosidase(BG),β-1,4-xylosidase(BX),andβ-D-cellobiosidase(CBH)decreased with decomposition while acid phosphatase,leucine aminopeptidase,and phenol oxidase increased with decomposition.We found that both litter bacterial and fungal communities changed significantly with decomposition.Furthermore,bacterial communities shifted from copiotrophic-dominated to oligotrophic-dominated in the late stage of litter decomposition.Partial least squares path model revealed that the decomposition of E.nutans litter was mainly driven by bacterial communities and their secreted enzymes.Bacteroidota and Proteobacteria were important producers of enzymes BG,BX,and CBH,and their relative abundances were tightly positively related to the content of cellulose and hemicellulose,indicating that Bacteroidota and Proteobacteria are the main bacterial taxa of the decomposition of E.nutans litter.In conclusion,this study demonstrates that bacterial communities are the main driving forces behind the decomposition of E.nutans litter,highlighting the vital roles of bacterial communities in affecting the ecosystem functions of the QTP by regulating dominant plant litter decomposition.

A sustainable process to 100%bio-based nylons integrated chemical and biological conversion of lignocellulose

Considerable progress has been made in recent years to the development of sustainable polymers from bio-based feedstocks.In this study,100%bio-based nylons were prepared via an integrated chemical and biological process from lignocellulose.These novel nylons were obtained by the melt polymerization of 3-propyladipic acid derived from lignin and 1,5-pentenediamine/1,4-butanediamine derived from carbohydrate sugar.Central to the concept is a three-step noble metal free catalytic chemical funnelling sequence(Raney Ni mediated reductive catalytic fractionation-reductive funnelling-oxidative funnelling),which allowed for obtaining a single component 3-propyladipic acid from lignin with high efficiency.The structural and thermodynamic properties of the obtained nylons have been systematically investigated,and thus obtained transparent bio-based nylons exhibited higher Mw(>32,000)and excellent thermal stability(Td5%>265℃).Considering their moderate Tg and good melt strength,these transparent bio-based nylons could serve as promising functional additives or temperature-responsive materials.

Electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide to produce formic acid coupled with oxidative conversion of biomass

Electrochemical reduction of CO_(2)(CO_(2)RR)has become a research hot spot in recent years in the context of carbon neutrality.HCOOH is one of the most promising products obtained by electrochemical reduction of CO_(2) due to its high energy value as estimated by market price per energy unit and wide application in chemical industry.Biomass is the most abundant renewable resource in the natural world.Coupling biomass oxidative conversion with CO_(2)RR driven by renewable electricity would well achieve carbon negativity.In this work,we comprehensively reviewed the current research progress on CO_(2)RR to produce HCOOH and coupled system for conversion of biomass and its derivatives to produce value-added products.Sn-and Bi-based electrocatalysts are discussed for CO_(2)RR with regards to the structure of the catalyst and reaction mechanisms.Electro-oxidation reactions of biomass derived sugars,alcohols,furan aldehydes and even polymeric components of lignocellulose were reviewed as alternatives to replace oxygen evolution reaction(OER)in the conventional electrolysis process.It was recommended that to further improve the efficiency of the coupled system,future work should be focused on the development of more efficient and stable catalysts,careful design of the electrolytic cells for improving the mass transfer and development of environment-friendly processes for recovering the formed formate and biomass oxidation products.

Activated Carbon from Nipa Palm Fronds(Nypa fruticans)with H_(3)PO_(4) and KOH Activators as Fe Adsorbers

Nipa palm is one of the non-wood plants rich in lignocellulosic content.In this study,palm fronds were converted into activated carbon,and their physical,chemical,and morphological properties were characterized.The resulting activated carbon was then applied as an adsorbent of Fe metal in peat water.The carbonization process was carried out for 60 min,followed by sintering at 400℃ for 5 h with a particle size of 200 mesh.KOH and H_(3)PO_(4) were used in the chemical activation process for 24 h.KOH-activated carbon contained 6.13%of moisture,4.55%of ash,17.02%of volatile matter,and 78.84%of fixed carbon,while its Fe reduction efficiency was 28.09%.The H_(3)PO_(4)-activated carbon contained 4.67%of moisture,2.84%of ash,16.41%of volatile matter,and 80.57%of bonded carbon,and the Fe reduction efficiency was 52.25%.KOH-activated carbon and H_(3)PO_(4)-activated carbon contained fixed carbon of 78.84%and 80.57%,respectively,while their average rates of efficiency of Fe reduction were 22.82%and 39.23%,respectively.Overall,the characteristics of activated nipa carbon met the Indonesian standards(SNI No.06-3730-1995).However,H_(3)PO_(4)-activated carbon was found to be better at adsorbing Fe metal from peat water.

Camalote Grass (Paspalum fasciculatum Willd) as a Sustainable Raw Material for the Production of Lignocellulosic Ethanol

The current trend of replacing a percentage of gasoline with ethanol has promoted the development of new processes for its production from lignocellulosic biomass. This work reports the production of ethanol from the Camalote grass (Paspalum fasciculatum Willd). The lignocellulosic biomass was subjected to acid hydrolysis at 125C and 15 psi with H2SO4 concentrations at 5%, 10%, and 20%, obtaining an average of reducing sugars (pentoses and hexoses) from the hydrolyzed juice with 12.3%, 10%, and 17% Brix, respectively. The sugars were fermented using yeast of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae at 30C for 48 hours. Finally, the ethanol was distilled at 78C, and the average yields were obtained through analysis of variance with a 95% confidence level. The values indicate that there is a significant difference (p > 0.05), the Tukey study shows that all the % v/v averages are different from each other. For H2SO4 concentration at 5% (10.33 ± 2), H2SO4 at 10% (9.33 ± 1.8), and H2SO4 at 20% (6.33 ± 2). The acidity analysis for the ethanol obtained from each treatment gave a value of 1.8 mg/L of acetic acid in all cases.

Optimization of Cellulose Nanocrystal Isolation from Ayous Sawdust Using Response Surface Methodology

This study focuses on the extraction of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), from microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), derived from Ayous sawdust. The process involves multiple steps and a large amount of chemical products. The objective of this research was to determine the effects of factors that impact the isolation process and to identify the optimal conditions for CNC isolation by using the response surface methodology. The factors that varied during the process were the quantity of MCC, the concentration of sulfuric acid, the hydrolysis time and temperature, and the ultrasonic treatment time. The response measured was the yield. The study found that with 5.80 g of microcrystalline cellulose, a sulfuric acid concentration of 63.50% (w/w), a hydrolysis time of 53 minutes, a hydrolysis temperature of 69˚C, and a sonication time of 19 minutes are the ideal conditions for isolation. The experimental yield achieved was (37.84 ± 0.99) %. The main factors influencing the process were the sulfuric acid concentration, hydrolysis time and temperature, with a significant influence (p < 0.05). Infrared characterization results showed that nanocrystals were indeed isolated. With a crystallinity of 35.23 and 79.74, respectively, for Ayous wood fiber and nanocrystalline cellulose were observed by X-ray diffraction, with the formation of type II cellulose, thermodynamically more stable than native cellulose type I.

Breaking the temperature limit of hydrothermal carbonization of lignocellulosic biomass by decoupling temperature and pressure

Hydrothermal carbonization(HTC) of lignocellulosic biomass is a promising technology for the production of carbon materials with negative carbon emissions. However, the high reaction temperature and energy consumption have limited the development of HTC technology. In conventional batch reactors, the temperature and pressure are typically coupled at saturated states. In this study, a decoupled temperature and pressure hydrothermal(DTPH) reaction system was developed to decrease the temperature of the HTC reaction of lignocellulosic biomass(rice straw and poplar leaves). The properties of hydrochars were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy(SEM), Fourier transform infrared(FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction(XRD), thermogravimetric analyzer(TGA), etc. to propose the reaction mechanism. The results showed that the HTC reaction of lignocellulosic biomass could be realized at a low temperature of 200℃ in the DTPH process, breaking the temperature limit(230℃) in the conventional process. The DTPH method could break the barrier of the crystalline structure of cellulose in the lignocellulosic biomass with high cellulose content, realizing the carbonization of cellulose and hemicellulose with the dehydration, unsaturated bond formation, and aromatization. The produced hydrochar had an appearance of carbon microspheres, with high calorific values, abundant oxygen-containing functional groups, a certain degree of graphitization, and good thermal stability. Cellulose acts not only as a barrier to protect itself and hemicellulose from decomposition, but also as a key precursor for the formation of carbon microspheres. This study shows a promising method for synthesizing carbon materials from lignocellulosic biomass with a carbon-negative effect.

Research perspectives for catalytic valorization of biomass

Efficient utilization of biomass for the supply of energy and synthetic materials would mitigate the heavy reliance on fossil resources and the growing CO_(2) emission, thus contributing to establishing sustainable and carbon–neutral societies. Much effort has been devoted to catalytic transformations of lignocellulosic biomass, the most abundant and nonedible form of biomass.

Co@CoO:An efficient catalyst for the depolymerization and upgrading of lignocellulose to alkylcyclohexanols with cellulose intact

The depolymerization and upgrading of lignin from raw biomass,while keeping cellulose intact is important in biorefinery and various metal-based catalysts have been used in reductive catalytic fractionation,a key method in"lignin-first"strategy,Recently,we found that a core-shell structured Co@CoO catalyst with CoO shell as the real active site had excellent performance in the hydrogenolysis of 5-hydromethylfurfural to 2,5-dimethylfuran due to its unique ability to dissociate H_(2)and yield active H^(δ-)species(Xiang et al.,2022).In this work,we report a one-pot depolymerization and upgrading of lignocellulose to alkylcyclohexanols,a flavour precursor,with intact cellulose over this unique core-shell structured catalyst,Co@CoO.Lignin model compounds(β-O-4,4-O-5,α-O-4)were first used to clarify the activity of Co@CoO catalyst.Then,the one-pot conversion of various organosolv lignin(birch,pine and poplar)to alkylcyclohexanols was realized with the mass yield of alkylcyclohexanols up to25.8 wt%from birch lignin under the reaction condition of 210℃,1 MPa H_(2),16 h.Finally,the corresponding woody sawdusts were used as feedstocks and found that the Co@CoO catalyst indeed preferentially depolymerized and upgraded the lignin part and obtained the same alkylcyclohexanols products with the retention of cellulose-rich pulp.The collected alkylcyclohexanols were further esterified to obtain valueadded esters,which can be used as flavors.This work will inspire the design of new efficient metal oxide catalysts in lignin fractionation and depolymerization to high-value-added chemicals with intact cellulose.

The case-dependent lignin role in lignocellulose nanofibers preparation and functional application-A review

Lignocellulose nanofibers(LCNFs) as a new material is attracting extensive attention. The pretreatment and mechanical fibrillation are the two main stages involved in the preparation of LCNFs, and lignin plays the important role of these two stages. This review discussed the interaction between lignin and chemicals in the pretreatment stage, and discovered the general law of the effect of lignin in the mechanical fibrillation stage.Lignin exhibits both promotion and inhibition effects on mechanical fibrillation, and the mutual competition between the two effects ultimately affects the energy consumption, morphology and yield of LCNFs. Furthermore, the recent research progress related to the contributions of lignin on the functional application of LCNFs was summarized, aiming to provide profound guidance for the preparation and application of LCNFs.

Production,purific tion,characterization and application of two novel endoglucanases from buffalo rumen metagenome

Background Lignocellulose biomass is the most abundant and renewable material in nature.The objectives of this study were to characterize two endoglucanases Trep Cel3 and Trep Cel4,and determine the effect of the combination of them(1.2 mg Trep Cel3,0.8 mg Trep Cel4)on in vitro rumen fermentation characteristics.In this study,three nature lignocellulosic substrates(rice straw,RS;wheat straw,WS;leymus chinensis,LC)were evaluated for their in vitro digestibility,gas,NH3-N and volatile fatty acid(VFA)production,and microbial protein(MCP)synthesis by adding enzymatic combination.Methods Two endoglucanases’genes were successfully expressed in Escherichia coli(E.coli)BL21(DE3),and enzymatic characteristics were further characterized.The combination of Trep Cel3 and Trep Cel4 was incubated with lignocellulosic substrates to evaluate its hydrolysis ability.Results The maximum enzymatic activity of Trep Cel3 was determined at p H 5.0 and 40℃,while Trep Cel4 was at p H 6.0 and 50℃.They were stable over the temperature range of 30 to 60℃,and active within the p H range of 4.0 to 9.0.The Trep Cel3 and Trep Cel4 had the highest activity in lichenan 436.9±8.30 and 377.6±6.80 U/mg,respectively.The combination of Trep Cel3 and Trep Cel4 exhibited the highest efficiency at the ratio of 60:40.Compared to maximum hydrolysis of Trep Cel3 or Trep Cel4 separately,this combination was shown to have a superior ability to maximize the saccharification yield from lignocellulosic substrates up to 188.4%for RS,236.7%for wheat straw WS,222.4%for LC and 131.1%for sugar beet pulp(SBP).Supplemental this combination enhanced the dry matter digestion(DMD),gas,NH3-N and VFA production,and MCP synthesis during in vitro rumen fermentation.Conclusions The Trep Cel3 and Trep Cel4 exhibited the synergistic relationship(60:40)and significantly increased the saccharification yield of lignocellulosic substrates.The combination of them stimulated in vitro rumen fermentation of lignocellulosic substrates.This combination has the potential to be a feed additive to improve agricultural residues utilization in ruminants.If possible,in the future,experiments in vivo should be carried out to fully evaluate its effect.

Co-digestion of Waste Coffee and Cocoa Hulls: Modeling of Biogas Production by the Particle Swarm Method

Energy is a crucial material for the development of our economy.Access to sufficient energy remains a major concern for developing countries,particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa.The major challenge lies in access to clean,environmentally friendly,quality and low-cost energy in different households in our municipalities.To cope with this vast energy gap,many households are dependent on fossil fuels.In Cameroon,the consumption of wood for the supply of energy is increasing by 4%per year.Overall,approximately 80%of households in Cameroon depend on woody biomass as the sole main source of energy supply in Cameroon and demand is growing over time.In view of the climatic variations that our countries,particularly Cameroon,undergo through deforestation,the use of wood as a source of energy is expensive and harmful to the environment,hence the urgency of replacing wood with renewable energy.Biogas is one of the most versatile sources of renewable energy.On an industrial scale,it is important to automate the process control.The main objective of the present work is to model the anaerobic digestion of coffee and cocoa hulls using the particle swarm optimisation method.Pretreatment using the organosolv process was done.This resulted in 48%lignin removal and 22%cellulose increase.For the pretreated biomass,the maximum production rate was 21 NmLCH4 per day with a biomethane yield of 90 NmLCH4/gVS.This represents an enhancement of 117%in biomethane yield.A positive flammability test was recorded after the 10th day of retention time.Moreover,the data collected during anaerobic digestion allowed implementation of a two-phase mathematical model.The thirteen parameters of the model were estimated with particle swarm optimisation method in Matlab.The model was able to simulate the biomethane production kinetics and variation of volatile fatty acid concentration.

Optimization and Thermodynamic Studies of Lead (II) and Cadmium (II) Ions Removal from Water Using Musa acuminate Pseudo-Stem Biochar

We recently found out that water from the Ugandan stretch of the Kagera transboundary river (East Africa) is contaminated with lead (Pb2+) and cadmium (Cd2+) ions at levels that are above permissible limits in drinking water. Because lignocellulosic biomass-based adsorbents have been explored for the remediation of metal ions from water, this study investigated the potential of Musa acuminata pseudo-stem (MAPS) biochar for the remediation of Pb2+ and Cd2+ ions from water. Batch adsorption experiments were performed to optimize the adsorption conditions while the isotherms were analyzed using Freundlich and Langmuir models. Results showed that the maximum adsorption capacity at equilibrium was 769.23 mg/g and 588.23 mg/g for Pb2+ and Cd2+ ions, respectively. Langmuir isotherm model provided the best fit for the data, and it was favorable since all r2 values (Cd2+ = 0.9726 and Pb2+ = 0.9592) were close to unity. Gibb’s free energy change was found to be negative for both metals, implying the feasibility of the adsorption process. Correspondingly, the enthalpy change was positive for both metal ions which revealed that the adsorption process was endothermic and it occurred randomly at the solid-liquid interface. These results suggested that biochar from MAPs could be utilized for the removal of Pb2+ and Cd2+ from polluted water in the Kagera transboundary river to make it suitable for domestic use. Further studies should consider chemical modification of the biochar as well as characterization to examine the chemical nature of the biochar.

Carbon Fiber from Biomass Sources:A Comprehensive Review

Global energy demand is rising,fossil fuel prices are rising,fossil fuel reserves are running out,and fossil fuel use contributes to the greenhouse effect.As a clean alternative source of energy to fossil fuels,biomass is becoming more and more essential.Carbon fiber(CF),often known as graphite fiber,is a thin,strong,and adaptable material utilized in both structural(capacity)and non-structural applications(e.g.,thermal insulation).Precursors are the raw materials used to create carbon fiber,which is mostly derived from fossil fuels.Because of the high cost of precursors and manufacture,carbon fiber has only found employment in a few numbers of high-performance structural materials(e.g.,aerospace).To reduce the price of CF and reliance on fossil fuels,numerous alternative precursors have been studied throughout the years,including biomass-derived precursors such as rayon,lignin,glycerol,and lignocellulosic polysaccharides.This study’s goal is to present a detailed study of biomass-derived CF precursors and their market potential.The authors look into the viability of producing CF from these precursors,as well as the state of technology,potential applications,and cost of production(when data are available).We go over their benefits and drawbacks.We also talk about the physical characteristics of CF made from biomass and contrast them with CF made from polyacrylonitrile(PAN).Additionally,we go into bio-based CF manufacturing and end-product concerns,logistics for biomass feedstock and plant sites,feedstock competition,and risk-reduction techniques.This paper offers a comprehensive overview of the CF potential from all biomass sources and can be used as a resource by both novice and seasoned professionals who are interested in producing CF from non-traditional sources.

Recent progress in supercritical fluid science for biofuel production from woody biomass

Owing to an environment-friendly utilization of resources, increased attention has been focused on fuels and chemicals from biomass as an alternative to fossil resources. In addition, supercritical fluid technology has been considered to be an environmentally-benign treatment. Therefore, its technology was applied for a conversion of biomass to useful fuels and chemicals in order to mitigate environmental loading. For example, supercritical water treatment has demonstrated that lignocellulosics can be hydrolyzed to become lignin-derived products for useful aromatic chemicals and carbohydrate-derived products, such as polysaccharides, oligosaccharides and monosaccharides of glucose, mannose and xylose used for subsequent ethanol fermentation. If this treatment is prolonged, lignocellulosics were found to be converted to organic acids such as formic, acetic, glycolic and lactic acids which can be converted to methane for biofuel. When alcohols, such as methanol and ethanol, were used instead of water, some other useful products were achieved, and its liquefied products were found to have a potential for liquid biofuel. In this study, therefore, our research achievements in supercritical fluid science of woody biomass will be introduced for clean and green chemistry for a sustainable environment.

Comparison of hydroxyl radical-scavenging abilities between white rot fungus Lentinula edodes and five mildews on lignocellulose substance

The hydroxyl radical（-OH）-scavenging ability of culture filtrates from submerged culture of Lentinula edodes AX3 and five mildews on lignocellulose substance was analysed. Only L. edodes AX3 showed significant -OH-scavenging ability which reached 52.2% at about the 48th hour. All mildews could hardly scavenge -OH under the experimental conditions. -OH-scavenging ability is considered related to the mode and ability of lignocellulose degradation of a strain. The degradation or bioconversion products might be the substance base for.this effect.

A review of the current state of biofuels production from lignocellulosic biomass using thermochemical conversion routes

The rapid increase in energy demand,the extensive use of fossil fuels and the urgent need to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions have raised concerns in the transportation sector.Alternate renewable and sustainable sources have become the ultimate solution to overcome the expected depletion of fossil fuels.The conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to liquid(BtL)transportation fuels seems to be a promising path and presents advantages over first generation biofuels and fossil fuels.Therefore,development of BtL systems is critical to increase the potential of this resource in a sustainable and economic way.Conversion of lignocellulosic BtL transportation fuels,such as,gasoline,diesel and jet fuel can be accomplished through various thermochemical processes and processing routes.The major steps for the production of BtL fuels involve feedstock selection,physical pretreatment,production of bio-oil,upgrading of bio-oil to transportation fuels and recovery of value-added products.The present work is aiming to give a comprehensive review of the current process technologies following these major steps and the current scenarios of biomass to liquid facilities for the production of biofuels.

Lignocellulosic biomass as sustainable feedstock and materials for power generation and energy storage

Lignocellulosic biomass has attracted great interest in recent years for energy production due to its renewability and carbon-neutral nature.There are various ways to convert lignocellulose to gaseous,liquid and solid fuels via thermochemical,chemical or biological approaches.Typical biomass derived fuels include syngas,bio-gas,bio-oil,bioethanol and biochar,all of which could be used as fuels for furnace,engine,turbine or fuel cells.Direct biomass fuel cells mediated by various electron carriers provide a new direction of lignocellulose conversion.Various metal and non-metal based carriers have been screened for mediating the electron transfer from biomass to oxygen thus generating electricity.The power density of direct biomass fuel cells can be over 100 mW cm^(-2),which shows promise for practical applications.Lignocellulose and its isolated components,primarily cellulose and lignin,have also been paid considerable attention as sustainable carbonaceous materials for preparation of electrodes for supercapacitors,lithium-ion batteries and lithium-sulfur batteries.In this paper,we have provided a state-of-the-art review on the research progress of lignocellulosic biomass as feedstock and materials for power generation and energy storage focusing on the chemistry aspects of the processes.It was recommended that process integration should be performed to reduce the cost for thermochemical and biological conversion of lignocellulose to biofuels,while efforts should be made to increase efficiency and improve the properties for biomass fuelled fuel cells and biomass derived electrodes for energy storage.

Pretreatment of Corn Stover Using Supercritical CO2 with Water-Ethanol as Co-solvent

Supercritical carbon dioxide,with water-ethanol as co-solvent,was applied to pretreat corn stover to enhance its enzymatic hydrolysis.The efficiency of pretreatment was evaluated by the final reducing sugar yield obtained from the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose.Under the operation conditions of pretreatment pressure 15 MPa,temperature 180 ℃ and time 1 h,the optimal sugar yield of 77.8℅ was obtained.Scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and chemical composition analysis were applied to the pretreated corn stover.The results showed that the surface morphology and microscopic structure of pretreated corn stover were greatly changed.After the pretreatment,the contents of hemicellulose and lignin were reduced obviously.Thus more cellulose was exposed,increasing the sugar yield.