skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Deposition of Lignin Droplets Produced During Dilute Acid Pretreatment of Maize Stems Retards Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Cellulose

Abstract

Electron microscopy of lignocellulosic biomass following high-temperature pretreatment revealed the presence of spherical formations on the surface of the residual biomass. The hypothesis that these droplet formations are composed of lignins and possible lignin carbohydrate complexes is being explored. Experiments were conducted to better understand the formation of these lignin droplets and the possible implications they might have on the enzymatic saccharification of pretreated biomass. It was demonstrated that these droplets are produced from corn stover during pretreatment under neutral and acidic pH at and above 130C, and that they can deposit back onto the surface of residual biomass. The deposition of droplets produced under certain pretreatment conditions (acidic pH; T > 150C) and captured onto pure cellulose was shown to have a negative effect (5-20%) on the enzymatic saccharification of this substrate. It was noted that droplet density (per unit area) was greater and droplet size more variable under conditions where the greatest impact on enzymatic cellulose conversion was observed. These results indicate that this phenomenon has the potential to adversely affect the efficiency of enzymatic conversion in a lignocellulosic biorefinery.

Authors:
; ; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
982273
DOE Contract Number:  
AC36-08GO28308
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Biotechnology Progress
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 23; Journal Issue: 6, 2007; Journal ID: ISSN 8756-7938
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
09 BIOMASS FUELS; 59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES; AGRICULTURAL WASTES; BIOMASS; CARBOHYDRATES; CELLULOSE; COMPLEXES; CONVERSION; DENSITY; DEPOSITION; DEPOSITS; DROPLETS; ELECTRON MICROSCOPY; ENZYMATIC HYDROLYSIS; HYPOTHESIS; LIGNIN; MAIZE; POTENTIALS; SACCHARIFICATION; SIZE; SURFACES; TEMPERATURE RANGE 0400-1000 K; Chemical and Biosciences; Bioenergy

Citation Formats

Selig, M J, Viamajala, S, Decker, S R, Tucker, M P, Himmel, M E, and Vinzant, T B. Deposition of Lignin Droplets Produced During Dilute Acid Pretreatment of Maize Stems Retards Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Cellulose. United States: N. p., 2007. Web. doi:10.1021/bp0702018.
Selig, M J, Viamajala, S, Decker, S R, Tucker, M P, Himmel, M E, & Vinzant, T B. Deposition of Lignin Droplets Produced During Dilute Acid Pretreatment of Maize Stems Retards Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Cellulose. United States. https://doi.org/10.1021/bp0702018
Selig, M J, Viamajala, S, Decker, S R, Tucker, M P, Himmel, M E, and Vinzant, T B. 2007. "Deposition of Lignin Droplets Produced During Dilute Acid Pretreatment of Maize Stems Retards Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Cellulose". United States. https://doi.org/10.1021/bp0702018.
@article{osti_982273,
title = {Deposition of Lignin Droplets Produced During Dilute Acid Pretreatment of Maize Stems Retards Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Cellulose},
author = {Selig, M J and Viamajala, S and Decker, S R and Tucker, M P and Himmel, M E and Vinzant, T B},
abstractNote = {Electron microscopy of lignocellulosic biomass following high-temperature pretreatment revealed the presence of spherical formations on the surface of the residual biomass. The hypothesis that these droplet formations are composed of lignins and possible lignin carbohydrate complexes is being explored. Experiments were conducted to better understand the formation of these lignin droplets and the possible implications they might have on the enzymatic saccharification of pretreated biomass. It was demonstrated that these droplets are produced from corn stover during pretreatment under neutral and acidic pH at and above 130C, and that they can deposit back onto the surface of residual biomass. The deposition of droplets produced under certain pretreatment conditions (acidic pH; T > 150C) and captured onto pure cellulose was shown to have a negative effect (5-20%) on the enzymatic saccharification of this substrate. It was noted that droplet density (per unit area) was greater and droplet size more variable under conditions where the greatest impact on enzymatic cellulose conversion was observed. These results indicate that this phenomenon has the potential to adversely affect the efficiency of enzymatic conversion in a lignocellulosic biorefinery.},
doi = {10.1021/bp0702018},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/982273}, journal = {Biotechnology Progress},
issn = {8756-7938},
number = 6, 2007,
volume = 23,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2007},
month = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2007}
}