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Effect of fiber structure on yield stress during enzymatic conversion of cellulose
Author(s) -
Tozzi Emilio J.,
McCarthy Michael J.,
Lavenson David M.,
Cardona Maria,
Powell and Robert L.,
Karurdrapee,
Jeoh Tina
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
aiche journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.958
H-Index - 167
eISSN - 1547-5905
pISSN - 0001-1541
DOI - 10.1002/aic.14374
Subject(s) - rheometer , rheology , yield (engineering) , fiber , cellulose , enzymatic hydrolysis , cellulose fiber , suspension (topology) , cellulosic ethanol , materials science , hydrolysis , chemical engineering , viscosity , biomass (ecology) , chemistry , composite material , organic chemistry , mathematics , agronomy , engineering , homotopy , pure mathematics , biology
Enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose for conversion to chemicals or fuels presents engineering challenges due to the large changes in suspension viscosity and yield stress that occur. A flow reactor with an in‐line rheometer was used to investigate the role of changes in fiber structure on rheology. The evolution of the suspension yield stress was compared to amount of soluble sugars released and changes in fiber length and width. A model was constructed that links the yield stress, conversion, and fiber shape. These results provide insights into the relationship between fiber structure and transport properties during the early stages of hydrolysis of cellulosic biomass. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J , 60: 1582–1590, 2014