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Research article2017Peer reviewedOpen access

Enhancing saccharification of cassava stems by starch hydrolysis prior to pretreatment

Martin, Carlos; Wei, Maogui; Xiong, Shaojun; Jonsson, Leif J.

Abstract

Chemical characterization of cassava stems from different origin revealed that glucans accounted for 54-63% of the dry weight, whereas 35-67% of these glucans consisted of starch. The cassava stems were subjected to a saccharification study including starch hydrolysis, pretreatment with either sulfuric acid or 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([Emim]OAc), and enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose. Starch hydrolysis prior to pretreatment decreased sugar degradation, improved enzymatic convertibility of cellulose, and increased overall glucan conversion. Glucan recovery after pretreatment of starch-free cassava stems (SFCS) was around 85%, but below 52% when the stems were pretreated under the same conditions without preparatory starch hydrolysis. The total amount of hydrolyzed glucan after cellulose hydrolysis was two-fold higher for pretreated SFCS than for directly pretreated stems. Pretreatment with [Emim]OAc resulted in 20% higher glucan conversion than pretreatment with acid. Pyrolysis-GC/MS, X-ray diffraction, CP/MAS C-13 NMR and FTIR analyses revealed major differences between H2SO4- and [Emim]OAc-pretreated material. (C) 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Keywords

Cassava stems; Cellulose hydrolysis; Dilute-acid pretreatment; Ethanol; Ionic liquid

Published in

Industrial Crops and Products
2017, Volume: 97, pages: 21-31
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV