An efficient process for the saccharification of wood chips by combined ionic liquid pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis.
A process concept combining pretreatment of wood in ionic liquids and subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis to sugars is herein investigated to identify operating conditions which allow for (i) the processing of larger wood chips of 10 mm length, (ii) low temperature, (iii) high sugar yield, and (iv) short processing time. A careful quantitative study of the interaction of pretreatment and hydrolysis reveals that hydrolysis is most effective if beech chips are first disintegrated in [EMIM][Ac] at 115 °C for 1.5 h. The cellulose conversion varies between 70.5 wt% and 90.2wt% for hydrolysis times between 5 h and 72 h. A complete recovery of cellulose and xylan resulting in a total saccharification of 65 wt% of the wood chips could be demonstrated. It is shown that short pretreatment times are required to enable high sugar yield as well as to limit product degradation.
Aachener Verfahrenstechnik - Process Systems Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Turmstr. 46, 52064 Aachen, Germany.
Jörn
J
Viell
Aachener Verfahrenstechnik - Enzyme Process Technology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringer Weg 1, 52056 Aachen, Germany.
Helene
H
Wulfhorst
Institute of Biology VII (Molecular Biotechnology), RWTH Aachen University, Worringer Weg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany; Interactive Materials Research, DWI at RWTH Aachen University e.V., Forckenbeckstr. 40, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
Thomas
T
Schmidt
Institute of Biology VII (Molecular Biotechnology), RWTH Aachen University, Worringer Weg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
Ulrich
U
Commandeur
Institute of Biology VII (Molecular Biotechnology), RWTH Aachen University, Worringer Weg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany; Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Forckenbeckstr. 6, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
Rainer
R
Fischer
Aachener Verfahrenstechnik - Enzyme Process Technology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringer Weg 1, 52056 Aachen, Germany; Interactive Materials Research, DWI at RWTH Aachen University e.V., Forckenbeckstr. 40, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
Antje
A
Spiess
Aachener Verfahrenstechnik - Process Systems Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Turmstr. 46, 52064 Aachen, Germany. Electronic address: wolfgang.marquardt@avt.rwth-aachen.de.
Wolfgang
W
Marquardt
D056804:Biofuels; D018533:Biomass; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000737:chemistry; D002480:Cellulase / Q000737:chemistry; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry; D003246:Conservation of Energy Resources; D000431:Ethanol; D006868:Hydrolysis; D052578:Ionic Liquids; D007477:Ions; D008031:Lignin / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014242:Trichoderma / Q000378:metabolism; D014934:Wood; D014990:Xylans / Q000737:chemistry
D056804:Biofuels; D002241:Carbohydrates; D052578:Ionic Liquids; D007477:Ions; D014990:Xylans; C036909:lignocellulose; D000431:Ethanol; D002482:Cellulose; D008031:Lignin; D002480:Cellulase
Hydrolysis; Ionic liquid (IL); Pretreatment; Saccharification; Wood