Reducing Woody Biomass Recalcitrance by Electron Beams, Biodelignification and Hot-Water Extraction
Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) woodchips, an abundant form of woody biomass in the Northeastern US, were treated with high-energy electron beam (HEEB) irradiation with or without prior biodelignification or hot-water extraction. It was found that HEEB irradiation significantly
reduced biomass recalcitrance. For example, 500 kGy dose of radiation decreased by 80% the break strength of maple woodchips. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that cellulose fibrils in maple wood became less thermally stable as the applied irradiation dose increased. An assay of cellulase
digestion showed that the conversion of cellulose to glucose was effectively enhanced by irradiation. Specifically, an irradiation dose of 750 kGy resulted in five-fold increase of the rate and the yield of glucose liberated by cellulases over the untreated maple wood. In addition, HEEB pretreatment
was found to partially de-acetylate maple chips.
Keywords: BIODELIGNIFICATION; BIOMASS RECALCITRANCE; ELECTRON-BEAM IRRADIATION; HOT-WATER EXTRACTION; PRETREATMENTS
Document Type: Research Article
Publication date: 01 June 2013
- Journal of Bioprocess Engineering and Biorefinery is a peer-reviewed multidisciplinary journal consolidates research activities in the fields of bioprocess engineering and biorefinery including bioseparation, cell culture, continuous culture, control; fermentation, genetic manipulation, kinetics, reactor analysis, stability and sustainability; biotransformation and chemical transformation of sustainable bioresources; biological waste treatment, waste biomass to chemicals, materials and energy; biotechnology, molecular and cellular bioengineering, biosystems, biocontrol science; bioprocess optimization and applications in industry; stem cell cultivation; food and bioproducts processing, fermentation, molecular enzymology; biochemical pharmacology, medicine, microbial products; biocatalysts, metabolic engineering; bioresource engineering, renewable agriculture biomass feedstock utilization; biopolymers, fibers, biomaterials; biorefinery processes; conversions to bioenergy, biofuels and biochemicals; and environmental impact, regulatory policies.
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