Autothermal, single-stage, performic acid pretreatment of Miscanthus x giganteus for the rapid fractionation of its biomass components into a lignin/hemicellulose-rich liquor and a cellulase-digestible pulp.
A novel approach to the performic acid pulping of biomass enables effective delignification and fractionation in a time frame not achieved heretofore. An autothermal decomposition reaction was triggered when 100mg/L Fe(2)(SO(4))(3) in 4.0 M NaOH was added to 5% or 7.5% H(2)O(2) in aqueous formic acid containing chipped Miscanthus x giganteus. Peroxy-decomposition resulted in pressures of 19 and 35 bar in the 5% and 7.5% peroxide liquors and reduced the lignin content in the resulting pulps to <6% within 140 and 30 min, respectively. Solubilised lignin was available for recovery from the liquor by subsequent dilution with water. Hemicellulose removal to the liquor was 68% and 89% for the 5% and 7.5% peroxide solutions. Crystalline cellulose yields were >99% and >95% and the rate of glucose release from cellulase digestion of the pulps in 24h was more than 20-fold that for the raw Miscanthus.
Carbolea, Chemical and Environmental Science Department, University of Limerick, Ireland.
Donncha
D
Haverty
Karla
K
Dussan
Anna V
AV
Piterina
J J
JJ
Leahy
M H B
MH
Hayes
D018533:Biomass; D002480:Cellulase / Q000378:metabolism*; D005591:Chemical Fractionation / Q000379:methods*; D003460:Crystallization; D005561:Formates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005947:Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D008031:Lignin / Q000032:analysis*; D010545:Peroxides / Q000737:chemistry; D006109:Poaceae / Q000187:drug effects*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000032:analysis*; D013696:Temperature
D005561:Formates; D010545:Peroxides; D011134:Polysaccharides; C008817:peroxyformic acid; C007916:hemicellulose; D008031:Lignin; D002480:Cellulase; D005947:Glucose