title: Optimizing ammonia pressurization/depressurization processing conditions to enhance enzymatic susceptibility of dwarf elephant grass.
abstract: An ammonia pressurization/depressurization process was investigated to evaluate the potential of producing reducing sugars from dwarf elephant grass, a warm-season forage. Moisture, temperature, and ammonia loading affected sugar yield (p < 0.0001). At optimal conditions, ammonia processing solubilized 50.9% of the hemicellulose and raised the sugar yield (percentage of theoretical) from 18 to 83%. Glucose and xylose production were increased 3.2- and 8.2-fold, respectively. The mild processing conditions of the ammonia treatment (90-100 degrees C, 5 min), the low enzyme loading (2 international filter paper units/g), and the short hydrolysis time (24 h), greatly enhance the potential of using forages to produce sugars valuable for several applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Science Faculty, University of Zulia, Módulo, Maracaibo, Venezuela. aferrer1@iamnet.com
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferrer
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Byers
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sulbarán-de-Ferrer
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Dale
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aiello
mesh_terms: D000641:Ammonia; D000821:Animal Feed; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods; D002480:Cellulase / Q000378:metabolism*; D002482:Cellulose; D005947:Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D007700:Kinetics; D006109:Poaceae; D011134:Polysaccharides; D011312:Pressure; D012995:Solubility; D014994:Xylose / Q000032:analysis*; D001617:beta-Glucosidase / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011134:Polysaccharides; D000641:Ammonia; C007916:hemicellulose; D002482:Cellulose; D014994:Xylose; D001617:beta-Glucosidase; D002480:Cellulase; D005947:Glucose