A chemical-recovery-free ammonium sulfite-based alkali pretreatment of corn stover for low-cost sugar production via fertilizer use of waste liquor

Ma, Shuaishuai; Shiva,; Tao, Haiying; Dempsey, Jacob; Chen, Xiaowen; Yuan, Jinxia; Zhu, J.Y.; Yuan, Joshua S.; Zhou, Le; Yang, Bin

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132402

A chemical-recovery-free ammonium sulfite-based alkali pretreatment of corn stover for low-cost sugar production via fertilizer use of waste liquor

Journal Article · Fri Mar 14 00:00:00 EDT 2025 · Bioresource Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132402· OSTI ID:2572608

^[1]; Shiva, ^[1]; Tao, Haiying ^[2]; Dempsey, Jacob ^[3]; Chen, Xiaowen ^[3]; Yuan, Jinxia ^[3]; ^[4]; Yuan, Joshua S. ^[5]; ^[5]; ^[5]

Washington State Univ., Pullman, WA (United States)
Univ. of Connecticut, Storrs, CT (United States)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA), Madison, WI (United States). Forest Products Lab
Washington Univ., St. Louis, MO (United States)

The production of cellulosic sugars is a pivotal strategy for advancing biomass bioconversion. This study evaluated the pretreatment of corn stover using ammonium sulfite and potassium hydroxide to develop comprehensive data on sugar, lignin, chemicals, and overall mass recovery profiles in a batch reactor at 80 °C. The results indicated significant improvements in delignification, deacetylation, enzymatic digestibility, and overall sugar yield. Specifically, pretreating corn stover with a solution of 40 wt% potassium hydroxide and 15 wt% ammonium sulfite at 80 °C for 2 h achieved 78.9 % lignin removal and 82.1 % acetyl removal, resulting in a total sugar yield exceeding 87.5 % with an enzyme loading of 12.5 mg protein/g-glucan plus xylan. The pretreated spent liquor, containing ammonium, potassium, sulfur, biomass-derived organics, and inorganics, demonstrated substantial potential as a fertilizer. The techno-economic analysis projected a minimum sugar selling price of $0.285 per pound, supporting the ongoing development and implementation of chemical-recovery-free pretreatment technology.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Transportation Office. Bioenergy Technologies Office; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC36-08GO28308

OSTI ID:: 2572608

Report Number(s):: NREL/JA--5100-91483

Journal Information:: Bioresource Technology, Journal Name: Bioresource Technology Vol. 427; ISSN 0960-8524

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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A chemical-recovery-free ammonium sulfite-based alkali pretreatment of corn stover for low-cost sugar production via fertilizer use of waste liquor

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