title: A comparison of dilute aqueous p-toluenesulfonic and sulfuric acid pretreatments and saccharification of corn stover at moderate temperatures and pressures.
abstract: Single step pretreatment-saccharification of corn stover was investigated in aqueous p-toluenesulfonic and sulfuric acid media. Dilute aqueous solution of p-toluenesulfonic acid was a better catalyst than aqueous sulfuric acid of the same H(+) ion concentration for single step pretreatment-saccharification of corn stover at moderate temperatures and pressures. For example, 100mg corn stover heated at 150°C for 1h in 0.100 M H(+) aqueous sulfuric acid produced 64 μmol of total reducing sugars (TRS), whereas the sample heated in 0.100 M H(+)p-toluenesulfonic acid produced 165 μmol of TRS under identical conditions. Glucose yield showed a similar trend, as aq. sulfuric acid and p-toluene sulfonic acid media produced 29 and 35 μmol of glucose respectively after 2.5h. Higher catalytic activity of p-toluenesulfonic acid may be due to an interaction with biomass, supported by repulsion of hydrophobic tolyl group by the aqueous phase.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX 77446, USA. asamarasekara@pvamu.edu
authors.forename: Ananda S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Amarasekara
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wiredu
mesh_terms: D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial / Q000737:chemistry*; D011312:Pressure; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*; D012996:Solutions; D013464:Sulfuric Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D014050:Toluene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D012996:Solutions; D013464:Sulfuric Acids; D014867:Water; D014050:Toluene; C065428:4-toluenesulfinic acid; C033158:sulfuric acid