title: Optimization of processing conditions for the pretreatment of wheat straw using aqueous ionic liquid.
abstract: Pretreatment of wheat straw with the aqueous ionic liquid, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate, was optimized to maximize fermentable sugars recovery. The optimization process employed a central composite design, where the investigated variables were temperature (130-170°C), time (0.5-5.5h) and ionic liquid concentration (0-100%). All the tested variables were identified to have significant effects (p<0.05) on fermentable sugars recovery. The optimum pretreatment conditions were 158°C, an ionic liquid concentration of 49.5% (w/w), and a duration of 3.6h. Cellulose and xylan digestibility generally increased with increasing temperature, time and ionic liquid concentration; but, the carbohydrates recovered in the washed solids following pretreatment decreased. Thus, the final optimum conditions for maximizing fermentable sugars from the starting biomass were a compromise between greater digestibility and minimal carbohydrates loss during pretreatment.
authors: Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 4200 Highway 97, Summerland, British Columbia, Canada V0H 1Z0.
authors: Dongbao
authors: D
authors: Fu
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Mazza
mesh_terms: D006868:Hydrolysis; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000737:chemistry*; D014908:Triticum; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D007093:Imidazoles; D014867:Water; C518739:1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium