Selective solvent delignification for fermentation enhancement

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · Biotechnol. Bioeng.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/bit.260250107· OSTI ID:5941563

Augerinos, G C; Wang, D I.C.

Cellulose and hemicellulose in renewable biomass resources such as cornstover and wheat straw have been examined as substrates for the production of ethanol. A mixed culture of selected strains of Clostridium thermocellum and Clostridium thermosaccharolyticumare used to accomplish both the hydrolysis and fermentation of these carbohydrates in a single step. However, lignin and related phenolic materials are shown to diminish the rate, extent, and yield at which these carbohydrates can be utilized for ethanol production. In order to overcome this problem, a selective solvent pretreatment with alkaline-ethanol-water mixtures was examined for the delignification of cellulosic biomass under conditions where very little loss of fermentable carbohyrates results. Under optimal conditions, up to 67% of the initial lignin in cornstover can be extracted while 95% of the ..cap alpha..-cellulose and pentosan carbohydrates remain insoluble. Subsequent mixed culture fermentation of the treated material has shown a 400% increase in the rate of degradation and greater than 85% utilization of the substrate. The effects of various extraction parameters on delignification kinetics and subsequent fermentation performance are discussed.

• Research Organization: Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
• OSTI ID: 5941563
• Journal Information: Biotechnol. Bioeng.; (United States), Journal Name: Biotechnol. Bioeng.; (United States) Vol. XXV:1; ISSN BIBIA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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AGRICULTURAL WASTES
ALCOHOLS
BACTERIA
BIOCONVERSION
BIOMASS
CARBOHYDRATES
CELLULOSE
CEREALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CLOSTRIDIUM
CLOSTRIDIUM THERMOCELLUM
DECOMPOSITION
DELIGNIFICATION
DISPERSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
ETHANOL
FERMENTATION
GRAMINEAE
GRASS
HEMICELLULOSE
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROLYSIS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
KINETICS
LYSIS
MAIZE
MICROORGANISMS
MIXTURES
OPTIMIZATION
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC WASTES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
POLYSACCHARIDES
PRODUCTION
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SACCHARIDES
SOLVENTS
SOLVOLYSIS
STRAW
SUBSTRATES
WASTES
WATER