title: Wet fractionation of the succulent halophyte Salicornia sinus-persica, with the aim of low input (water saving) biorefining into bioethanol.
abstract: In this study Salicornia sinus-persica, a succulent halophyte was assessed for its potential to be used as a feedstock for bioethanol production. For such succulent, salty, green biomasses, direct fractionation and fermentation allow for water preservation in the process. Fresh biomass of S. sinus-persica was collected and split into two fractions by wet fractionation; liquid (juice) and solid (pulp). Sugar contents were found to be 1.0-1.5% for the juice fraction and 50% (w/w) for the fresh pulp. Direct fermentation of the juice using Saccharomyces cerevisiae showed no salt inhibition of the yeast and ethanol yields of ~70% were achieved. A pretreatment study was carried out for the pulp fraction applying mild hydrothermal pretreatment. Cellulose convertibility was found to be significantly higher for severity factors above 2.00, and the highest ethanol yield (76.91 ± 3.03%) was found at process severity of 3.06 (170 °C, 10 min).
authors.affiliation: The Institute Centre for Energy, Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 54224, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
authors.forename: Ayah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alassali
authors.affiliation: The Institute Centre for Energy, Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 54224, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cybulska
authors.affiliation: Sustainable Bioenergy Research Consortium, Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 54224, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
authors.forename: Alejandro Ríos
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Galvan
authors.affiliation: Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University, Niels Bohrsvej 8, DK-6700, Esbjerg, Denmark. Mette.h.thomsen.ad@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mette Hedegaard
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Thomsen
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D019663:Chenopodiaceae / Q000378:metabolism; D000431:Ethanol / Q000378:metabolism; D005285:Fermentation / Q000502:physiology; D055051:Salt-Tolerant Plants / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol
keywords: Bioethanol; Biomass; Green biorefinery; Halophyte; Hydrothermal pretreatment; Salicornia sinus-persica