title: Pilot-scale steam explosion for xylose production from oil palm empty fruit bunches and the use of xylose for ethanol production.
abstract: Pilot-scale steam explosion equipments were designed and constructed, to experimentally solubilize xylose from oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) and also to enhance an enzyme accessibility of the residual cellulose pulp. The OPEFB was chemically pretreated prior to steam explosion at saturated steam (SS) and superheated steam (SHS) conditions. The acid pretreated OPEFB gave the highest xylose recovery of 87.58 ± 0.21 g/kg dried OPEFB in the liquid fraction after explosion at SHS condition. These conditions also gave the residual cellulose pulp with high enzymatic accessibility of 73.54 ± 0.41%, which is approximately threefold that of untreated OPEFB. This study has shown that the acid pretreatment prior to SHS explosion is an effective method to enhance both xylose extraction and enzyme accessibility of the exploded OPEFB. Moreover, the xylose solution obtained in this manner could directly be fermented by Candida shehatae TISTR 5843 giving high ethanol yield of 0.30 ± 0.08 g/g xylose.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90112, Thailand. Electronic address: sasai_td@hotmail.co.th.
authors.forename: Sairudee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Duangwang
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90112, Thailand.
authors.forename: Taweesak
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ruengpeerakul
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial Biotechnology, Faculty of Agro-Industry, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90112, Thailand.
authors.forename: Benjamas
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cheirsilp
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90112, Thailand.
authors.forename: Ram
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yamsaengsung
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90112, Thailand.
authors.forename: Chayanoot
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sangwichien
mesh_terms: D028023:Arecaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D002175:Candida / Q000378:metabolism; D000431:Ethanol / Q000378:metabolism*; D005107:Explosions; D005285:Fermentation; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012995:Solubility; D013227:Steam; D014994:Xylose / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D013227:Steam; D000431:Ethanol; D014994:Xylose
keywords: Enzymatic accessibility; Ethanol; Oil palm empty fruit bunch; Pilot-scale steam explosion; Xylose