Enhancing enzymatic digestibility of miscanthus sinensis using steam explosion coupled with chemicals

Abstract

The effect of steam explosion coupled with alkali (1% sodium hydroxide, 1% potassium hydroxide and 15 sodium carbonate) or organosolv solvent (85% methanol, 70% ethanol and dioxane) on the production of sugar changes in the chemical composition of M. sinensis were evaluated. The steam explosion coupled with 1 potassium hydroxide and dioxane were better as compared with other treatments based on the removals of aci insoluble lignin, and about 89.0% and 85.4%. Enzymatic hydrolysis of steam explosion with 1% potassiu hydroxide and dioxane treated M. sinensis, gave a 98.0% and 96.5% of glucose conversion, respectively These results suggested that pretreatment of M. sinensis with either potassium hydroxide or dioxane could b a promising pretreatment method for glucose production.