Effect of Steam Explosion Pretreatment on Bioethanol Production from Populus euramericana as Alternative Feedstock

Abstract

Populus euramericana is emerging as a viable feedstock for producing bioethanol fromrenewable resources. Steam explosion pretreatment of P. euramericana can solubilize a significantportion of the hemicellulosic component and enhance the glucose conversion of the remainingcellulose for fermentation into ethanol. In this study, steam explosion condition of P. euramericana is performed in a steam explosion reactor at severity log Ro 4.02 and severity logRo 4.37. Glucose conversion varied from 72.3% to 80.1% of steam exploded P. euramericana atseverity log Ro 4.02 and severity log Ro 4.37. Ethanol yields(%) based on sugar content afterenzymatic hydrolysis after 48 h fermentation ranged from 87.0% to 88.4%. As a result, from 100g of raw material, 14.0 g of ethanol are recovered of 47.3 g available cellulose content. Thisresearch of steam explosion pretreatment was a promising method to improve glucose conversionand ethanol yield for bioethanol production.