Abstract
Huge amounts of waste acid and wastewater are generated during the corncob pretreatment process, which limits chemical utilization of biomass resources to produce value-added chemicals and biofuels. In this work, a new approach, i.e., reuse of the corncob pretreatment liquid, is proposed toward diminishing acid and water consumption. Metal ions and soluble proteins in the pretreatment liquid were analyzed by the inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and the Coomassie rilliant blue G250 method, respectively. The results showed that the increament of soluble proteins and total metal ions in solution by three reuse rounds of the pretreatment liquid is nearly identical to that in solution by new added pretreatment liquid. Besides, the surface morphology of the corncob obtained by three reuse rounds of the liquid pretreatment did not exhibit significant difference comparing to that of the corncob acquired by new liquid pretreatment. Further, selection basis of an optimal reuse round of the pretreatment liquid is suggested depending on the effective removal of soluble proteins and metal ions from corncobs. By repeated use of the pretreatment liquid, the consumption of both acid and water during the corncob pretreatment process is expected to be significantly reduced.
Highlights
In recent years, shortages of resources and energy are key issues that become more and more significant and have to be confronted in many countries
In a new technology for economic pretreating the corncobs reusing via the pretreatment
3.1~3.2 exhibits nearly equivalent effect on removing the soluble found that the pretreatment liquid with a pH value of 3.1~3.2 exhibits nearly equivalent effect on proteins corncobproteins as compared the newly added liquid
Summary
Shortages of resources and energy are key issues that become more and more significant and have to be confronted in many countries. The development and utilization of biomass resource is known as an effective means to address this issue due to its unique characteristics such as high abundance, superior renewablilty, and remarkable sustainability [1]. Effective transmission of biomass to value-added chemicals and high energy–density fuels has received considerable attention, which is pivotal for a more sustainable economy and carbon-neutral society [2]. Biomass is a promising renewable energy that can be derived from various sustainable sources, including lignocellulose, lipids, starch, and aquatic plants. Corncob is highly valued since it contains large amounts of pentosans and hexoses.
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