Efficient production of ferulic acid and p-coumaric acid from reed straws via combined enzymatic hydrolysis and hydrothermal pretreatment

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate an available process for production of ferulic acid (FA) and p-coumaric acid (pCA) that could be potentially used as functional agents in food processing. The hydrothermal pretreatment combined with enzymatic hydrolysis (HP-CEH) was explored for efficient production of phenolic acids from reed straws. The results indicated that HP-CEH significantly increased production of phenolic acids. The recovery yield of ferulic acid and p-coumaric acid was respectively found to be 0.69 and 0.81 mg/g dry reed straw when performed by HP-CEH for 16 h. The degradation of hemicellulose, lignocellulose and lignin, and disruption of cell walls or cellulose fibers contributed to phenolic acids production from reed straws. Moreover, the scavenging activity of hydroxyl radical and DPPH radical of the phenolic acids extracted by HP-CEH was respectively obtained to be 77.32% and 86.77%.