title: Optimization of clean fractionation processing as a pre-treatment technology for prairie cordgrass.
abstract: The main objective of this study was to fractionate prairie cordgrass (PCG) obtaining the highest cellulose digestibility. Following clean fractionation (CF) processing, the PCG lignocellulosic biomass was fractionated into three main building blocks: cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Effects of processing factors such as time, temperature, catalyst concentration and organic solvent mixture composition were evaluated. Organic solvent-aqueous mixture contained methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK), ethanol and water in different proportions. Sulfuric acid was used as a catalyst. In order to evaluate the degree of pre-treatment, enzymatic saccharification was employed on the cellulose fraction obtained from the CF process. Response surface methodology was used for process optimization and statistical analysis. Optimal conditions (39 min, 154°C, 0.69% catalyst and 9% MIBK) resulted in 84% glucose yield and 87% acid insoluble lignin (AIL).
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, South Dakota State University, 1400 N Campus D, Ag. Eng. Building, Brookings, SD 57007, USA. grzegorz.brudecki@sdstate.edu
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brudecki
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cybulska
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rosentrater
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Julson
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D002384:Catalysis; D006868:Hydrolysis; D008031:Lignin; D006109:Poaceae
chemical_list: C036909:lignocellulose; D008031:Lignin