Carbon dioxide as a pH-switch anti-solvent for biomass fractionation and pre-treatment with aqueous hydroxide solutions

TY - JOUR

T1 - Carbon dioxide as a pH-switch anti-solvent for biomass fractionation and pre-treatment with aqueous hydroxide solutions

AU - To, Trang Quynh

AU - Kenny, Ceire

AU - Cheong, Soshan

AU - Aldous, Leigh

PY - 2017/4/17

Y1 - 2017/4/17

N2 - Rice husks (or rice hulls) pre-treated with aqueous potassium hydroxide solutions showed excellent glucose yields during enzymatic saccharification. CO2 addition to the hydroxide solutions precipitated the dissolved rice husk silica as a nanoporous powder, while Ca(OH)2 addition regenerated the hydroxide solution and precipitated the dissolved lignin. Fractionation of the biomass was thus achieved using CO2 addition as a reversible pH-switch, and the hydroxide could be repeatedly recycled while maintaining biomass pre-treatment and fractionation efficacy.

AB - Rice husks (or rice hulls) pre-treated with aqueous potassium hydroxide solutions showed excellent glucose yields during enzymatic saccharification. CO2 addition to the hydroxide solutions precipitated the dissolved rice husk silica as a nanoporous powder, while Ca(OH)2 addition regenerated the hydroxide solution and precipitated the dissolved lignin. Fractionation of the biomass was thus achieved using CO2 addition as a reversible pH-switch, and the hydroxide could be repeatedly recycled while maintaining biomass pre-treatment and fractionation efficacy.

U2 - 10.1039/c7gc00574a

DO - 10.1039/c7gc00574a

M3 - Article

SN - 1463-9262

VL - 19

SP - 2129

EP - 2134

JO - GREEN CHEMISTRY

JF - GREEN CHEMISTRY

IS - 9

ER -