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Title: An In-Depth Understanding of Biomass Recalcitrance Using Natural Poplar Variants as the Feedstock

Abstract

Here, in an effort to better understand the biomass recalcitrance, six natural poplar variants were selected as feedstocks based on previous sugar release analysis. Compositional analysis and physicochemical characterizations of these poplars were performed and the correlations between these physicochemical properties and enzymatic hydrolysis yield were investigated. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and 13C solid state NMR were used to determine the degree of polymerization (DP) and crystallinity index (CrI) of cellulose, and the results along with the sugar release study indicated that cellulose DP likely played a more important role in enzymatic hydrolysis. Simons’ stain revealed that the accessible surface area of substrate significantly varied among these variants from 17.3 to 33.2 mg g$$–1\atop{biomass}$$ as reflected by dye adsorption, and cellulose accessibility was shown as one of the major factors governing substrates digestibility. HSQC and 31P NMR analysis detailed the structural features of poplar lignin variants. Overall, cellulose relevant factors appeared to have a stronger correlation with glucose release, if any, than lignin structural features. Lignin structural features, such as a phenolic hydroxyl group and the ratio of syringyl and guaiacyl (S/G), were found to have a more convincing impact on xylose release. Low lignin content, low cellulose DP, and high cellulose accessibility generally favor enzymatic hydrolysis; however, recalcitrance cannot be simply judged on any single substrate factor.

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [3];  [3];  [4];  [4];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [5]
  1. Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States). Dept. of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
  2. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). BioEnergy Science Center and Biosciences Division
  3. Georgia Inst. of Technology, Atlanta, GA (United States). Renewable Bioproducts Inst.
  4. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). BioEnergy Science Center and Biosciences Division; National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
  5. Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States). Dept. of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Biosciences Division and Inst. of Agriculture
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States); Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). BioEnergy Science Center (BESC)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
OSTI Identifier:
1343083
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1337507
Report Number(s):
NREL/JA-5100-67897
Journal ID: ISSN 1864-5631
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC36-08GO28308; AC05-00OR22725
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
ChemSusChem
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 10; Journal Issue: 1; Journal ID: ISSN 1864-5631
Publisher:
ChemPubSoc Europe
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
09 BIOMASS FUELS; biomass recalcitrance; cellulose; crystallinity; degree of polymerization; lignin

Citation Formats

Meng, Xianzhi, Pu, Yunqiao, Yoo, Chang Geun, Li, Mi, Bali, Garima, Park, Doh-Yeon, Gjersing, Erica, Davis, Mark F., Muchero, Wellington, Tuskan, Gerald A., Tschaplinski, Timothy J., and Ragauskas, Arthur J.. An In-Depth Understanding of Biomass Recalcitrance Using Natural Poplar Variants as the Feedstock. United States: N. p., 2016. Web. doi:10.1002/cssc.201601303.
Meng, Xianzhi, Pu, Yunqiao, Yoo, Chang Geun, Li, Mi, Bali, Garima, Park, Doh-Yeon, Gjersing, Erica, Davis, Mark F., Muchero, Wellington, Tuskan, Gerald A., Tschaplinski, Timothy J., & Ragauskas, Arthur J.. An In-Depth Understanding of Biomass Recalcitrance Using Natural Poplar Variants as the Feedstock. United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.201601303
Meng, Xianzhi, Pu, Yunqiao, Yoo, Chang Geun, Li, Mi, Bali, Garima, Park, Doh-Yeon, Gjersing, Erica, Davis, Mark F., Muchero, Wellington, Tuskan, Gerald A., Tschaplinski, Timothy J., and Ragauskas, Arthur J.. Wed . "An In-Depth Understanding of Biomass Recalcitrance Using Natural Poplar Variants as the Feedstock". United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.201601303. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1343083.
@article{osti_1343083,
title = {An In-Depth Understanding of Biomass Recalcitrance Using Natural Poplar Variants as the Feedstock},
author = {Meng, Xianzhi and Pu, Yunqiao and Yoo, Chang Geun and Li, Mi and Bali, Garima and Park, Doh-Yeon and Gjersing, Erica and Davis, Mark F. and Muchero, Wellington and Tuskan, Gerald A. and Tschaplinski, Timothy J. and Ragauskas, Arthur J.},
abstractNote = {Here, in an effort to better understand the biomass recalcitrance, six natural poplar variants were selected as feedstocks based on previous sugar release analysis. Compositional analysis and physicochemical characterizations of these poplars were performed and the correlations between these physicochemical properties and enzymatic hydrolysis yield were investigated. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and 13C solid state NMR were used to determine the degree of polymerization (DP) and crystallinity index (CrI) of cellulose, and the results along with the sugar release study indicated that cellulose DP likely played a more important role in enzymatic hydrolysis. Simons’ stain revealed that the accessible surface area of substrate significantly varied among these variants from 17.3 to 33.2 mg g$–1\atop{biomass}$ as reflected by dye adsorption, and cellulose accessibility was shown as one of the major factors governing substrates digestibility. HSQC and 31P NMR analysis detailed the structural features of poplar lignin variants. Overall, cellulose relevant factors appeared to have a stronger correlation with glucose release, if any, than lignin structural features. Lignin structural features, such as a phenolic hydroxyl group and the ratio of syringyl and guaiacyl (S/G), were found to have a more convincing impact on xylose release. Low lignin content, low cellulose DP, and high cellulose accessibility generally favor enzymatic hydrolysis; however, recalcitrance cannot be simply judged on any single substrate factor.},
doi = {10.1002/cssc.201601303},
journal = {ChemSusChem},
number = 1,
volume = 10,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Nov 23 00:00:00 EST 2016},
month = {Wed Nov 23 00:00:00 EST 2016}
}

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Cited by: 75 works
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Figures / Tables:

Figure 1 Figure 1: Composition of natural poplar variants. The horizontal lines represent the mean value of glucan, xylan, and lignin content.

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