Open AccessCellulosic Biomass Pretreatment and Sugar Yields as a Function of Biomass Particle Size
Author(s) -
Michael J. Dougherty,
Huu M. Tran,
Vitalie Stavila,
Bernhard Knierim,
Anthe George,
Manfred Auer,
Paul D. Adams,
Masood Z. Hadi
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0100836
Subject(s) - particle size , crystallinity , lignocellulosic biomass , chemistry , biomass (ecology) , hydrolysis , cellulosic ethanol , chemical engineering , particle (ecology) , cellulose , pulp and paper industry , agronomy , biochemistry , biology , engineering , ecology , crystallography
Three lignocellulosic pretreatment techniques (ammonia fiber expansion, dilute acid and ionic liquid) are compared with respect to saccharification efficiency, particle size and biomass composition. In particular, the effects of switchgrass particle size (32–200) on each pretreatment regime are examined. Physical properties of untreated and pretreated samples are characterized using crystallinity, surface accessibility measurements and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging. At every particle size tested, ionic liquid (IL) pretreatment results in greater cell wall disruption, reduced crystallinity, increased accessible surface area, and higher saccharification efficiencies compared with dilute acid and AFEX pretreatments. The advantages of using IL pretreatment are greatest at larger particle sizes (>75 µm).
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