Abstract
Biomass-derived sugars are platform molecules that can be converted into a variety of final products. Non-food, lignocellulosic feedstocks, such as agroforest residues and low inputs, high yield crops, are attractive bioresources for the production of second-generation sugars. Biorefining schemes based on the use of versatile technologies that operate at mild conditions contribute to the sustainability of the bio-based products. The present work describes the conversion of giant reed (Arundo donax), a non-food crop, to ethanol and furfural (FA). A sulphuric-acid-catalyzed steam explosion was used for the biomass pretreatment and fractionation. A hybrid process was optimized for the hydrolysis and fermentation (HSSF) of C6 sugars at high gravity conditions consisting of a biomass pre-liquefaction followed by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation with a step-wise temperature program and multiple inoculations. Hemicellulose derived xylose was dehydrated to furfural on the solid acid catalyst in biphasic media irradiated by microwave energy. The results indicate that the optimized HSSF process produced ethanol titers in the range 43–51 g/L depending on the enzymatic dosage, about 13–21 g/L higher than unoptimized conditions. An optimal liquefaction time before saccharification and fermentation tests (SSF) was 10 h by using 34 filter paper unit (FPU)/g glucan of Cellic® CTec3. C5 streams yielded 33.5% FA of the theoretical value after 10 min of microwave heating at 157 °C and a catalyst concentration of 14 meq per g of xylose.
Highlights
Several initiatives are active in Europe to foster the bio-based economy
The use of lignocellulosic feedstocks is encouraged because it does not compete with the use of commodities destined for food production
A. donax pretreated steamgexplosion was evaluated as a HCl renewable feedstock to g of 100 g of xylose) corresponding to 5.3 g by FA/100 of Arundo donax by using and 3.8 g FA/100 co-produce ethanol and
Summary
Several initiatives are active in Europe to foster the bio-based economy. Pillars of this transition are the sustainable production of bioenergy, advanced biofuels and bio-based chemicals and materials.The use of lignocellulosic feedstocks is encouraged because it does not compete with the use of commodities destined for food production. Several initiatives are active in Europe to foster the bio-based economy. Different biorefining schemes for the conversion of lignocellulosic feedstocks have been implemented so far which, in general, consist of converting the biomass to intermediate platform (macro) molecules or streams. Thermochemical processes are widely used for biomass conversion and energy recovery since they use well-developed technologies [1,2,3,4]. It uses saturated steam to produce high degrees of biomass destructuration and facilitate the subsequent fractionation in its macro-components: cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. For these reasons, it can Processes 2020, 8, 1591; doi:10.3390/pr8121591 www.mdpi.com/journal/processes
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
