Sequential acid-/alkali-pretreatment of empty palm fruit bunch fiber.
Pretreatment processes are key technologies for generating fermentable sugars based on lignocellulosic biomass. In this study, we developed a novel method for empty palm fruit bunch fiber (EPFBF) using sequential pretreatment with dilute acid and then alkali. Dilute sulfuric acid was used in the first step, which removed 90% of the hemicellulose and 32% of the lignin, but left most of the cellulose under the optimum pretreatment condition. Sodium hydroxide was then applied in the second step, which extracted lignin effectively with a 70% delignification yield, partially disrupting the ordered fibrils of the EPFBF and thus enhancing the enzyme digestibility of the cellulose. The sequentially pretreated biomass consisted of 82% cellulose, less than 1% hemicellulose, and 30% lignin content afterward. The pretreated biomasses morphologically revealed rough, porous, and irregularly ordered surfaces for enhancing enzyme digestibility. These results indicate that the sequentially acid/alkali-pretreated EPFBF could be broadly useful as a novel biomass.
Jeonbuk Branch Institute, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 181 Ipsin-gil, Jeongeup 580-185, Republic of Korea. seonghun@kribb.re.kr
Seonghun
S
Kim
Jang Min
JM
Park
Jeong-Woo
JW
Seo
Chul Ho
CH
Kim
D028023:Arecaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D002480:Cellulase / Q000378:metabolism; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000032:analysis*; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D006868:Hydrolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D008031:Lignin / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013464:Sulfuric Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*
D004043:Dietary Fiber; D013464:Sulfuric Acids; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide; D008031:Lignin; D002480:Cellulase; C033158:sulfuric acid