title: Effect of torrefaction for the pretreatment of rice straw for ethanol production.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rice straw is an attractive lignocellulosic material for ethanol production, since it is one of the most abundant renewable resources. It generally has high cellulose and hemicellulose contents that can be readily hydrolysed into sugars for subsequent ethanol fermentation. The pretreatment method plays an important role in increasing the efficiency of enzymatic saccharification, thereby making the whole process economically viable. Torrefaction is an appropriate pretreatment technique for enhancing the enzymatic reaction and subsequent ethanol production.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The effects of two important parameters, i.e. residence time (20, 40 and 60 min) and temperature (160, 180, 200, 220, 240 and 260 °C), were studied under an inert atmosphere. The highest yield of 351 ± 5.49 mg g(-1) total sugars was obtained after torrefaction treatment at 220 °C for 40 min, representing a 60.68% increase compared with the untreated sample. Based on ethanol studies conducted on rice straw, this estimated quantity of sugars could produce 150 ± 2.40 mg g(-1) ethanol, a 50.67% increase compared with the untreated sample under anaerobic conditions. The fermentation rate was enhanced by adding 0.4 mmol L(-1) benzoic acid.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of this waste material could reduce competition with food materials for ethanol production. It can be considered as an alternative sustainable waste management option.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Forest Products, IALS, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 660-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Md Mominul Islam
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Sheikh
authors.forename: Chul-Hwan
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyeon-Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sung-Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Gyeong-Chul
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ji-Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sung-Woong
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Sim
authors.forename: Jae Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D056804:Biofuels; D002480:Cellulase / Q000378:metabolism; D002482:Cellulose / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D000431:Ethanol / Q000378:metabolism*; D005285:Fermentation; D006867:Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007220:Industrial Waste; D008031:Lignin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D012275:Oryza / Q000737:chemistry*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D007220:Industrial Waste; D011134:Polysaccharides; C036909:lignocellulose; D000431:Ethanol; C007916:hemicellulose; D002482:Cellulose; D008031:Lignin; D006867:Hydrolases; D002480:Cellulase
keywords: bioethanol; fermentation; lignocellulosic materials; rice straw; saccharification; torrefaction