Abstract
Hemp wastes (stems and branches), fractionated after hemp flower extraction for the production of cannabidiol oil, were utilized as a potentially renewable resource for the sugar flatform process. Hydrolysis of cellulose from the acid pretreated hemp biomass using a commercial enzyme was tested and evaluated for its chemical composition, morphological change, and sugar recovery. Acid pretreated hemp stems and branches, containing 1% glucan (w/v) solids, were hydrolyzed for 72 h using 25 mg enzyme protein per g glucan. A 54% glucose conversion was achieved from the treated branches versus a 71% yield from the treated stems. Raw branches and stems yielded 35% and 38% glucose, respectively. Further tests with a lignin-blocking additive (e.g. bovine serum albumin) resulted in a 72% glucose yield increase for stem hydrolysis using 10 mg enzyme protein per g glucan. While pretreatment promotes amorphous hemicellulose decrease and cellulose decomposition, it causes enzyme inhibition/deactivation due to potential inhibitors (phenols and lignin-derived compounds). This study confirms the addition of non-catalytic proteins enhances the cellulose conversion by avoiding non-productive binding of enzymes to the lignin and lignin-derived molecules, with lignin content determining the degree of inhibition and conversion efficiency.
Highlights
Hemp, a class of Cannabis sativa plant species, has been widely consumed as food, nutrition source, and pharmaceutical, and used in diverse industries such as paper, textile, plastic, construction, and wastewater puri cation.[1,2] In particular, cannabis plants are currently receiving attention as a medicinal drug, which has positive effects on mental and physical conditions such as anxiety, euphoria, relaxation, damaged short-term memory, muscular movement, and behavior problems.[3]
Higher solubilization of the xylan fraction resulted in increasing glucan composition in the pretreated stem than those from the branch sample (52.5% vs. 4.2% xylan removal) while the total lignin contents were increased by 11.6% and 14.0% for stem and branch solids, respectively
It should be noted that a higher extent of lignin in the pretreated solids would be re ected by plant species, pretreatment type, and severity factor
Summary
A class of Cannabis sativa plant species, has been widely consumed as food, nutrition source, and pharmaceutical, and used in diverse industries such as paper, textile, plastic, construction, and wastewater puri cation.[1,2] In particular, cannabis plants are currently receiving attention as a medicinal drug, which has positive effects on mental and physical conditions such as anxiety, euphoria, relaxation, damaged short-term memory, muscular movement, and behavior problems.[3]. A er the Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act on industrial hemp cultivation was li ed, the interest and demand for hemp aDepartment of Biology, Hood College, Frederick, MD, 21701, USA. E-mail: kimd@ hood.edu bDepartment of Chemical Engineering, State University of New York – College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA cDepartment of Agriculture, Food and Resource Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD, 21853, USA dAtlantic Biomass Conversions, LLC, Frederick, MD, 21701, USA eMtheraPharma Co., Ltd., Seoul, 07793, Republic of Korea and hemp-related markets for food, pharmaceutical, and biochemical products have rapidly increased. Industrial hemp is mostly used for the production of oils extracted from owers (cannabidiol oil, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals), hempseed chemicals (food, meal, cosmetics), roots (phytoremediation, revitalization), and ber applications; other components such as hurds, stems, branches, and leaves are not fully utilized.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
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 call
