Enhanced fermentable sugar production in lignocellulosic biorefinery by exploring a novel corn stover and configuring high-solid pretreatment conditions

Abstract

This study aimed to produce enhanced fermentable sugars from a novel stover system through the bioprocessing of its soluble sugars and insoluble carbohydrates. The pretreatment conditions were optimized for this high sugar-containing stover (HSS) to control inhibitor formation and obtain enhanced fermentable sugar concentrations. The optimum temperature, acid loading, and reaction time for the pretreatment were 155 °C, 0.5%, and 30 min, respectively, providing up to 97.15% sugar yield and 76.51 g/L total sugars at 10% solid-load. Sugar concentration further increased to 126.9 g/L at 20% solid-load, generating 3.89 g/L acetate, 0.92 g/L 5-hydroxymethyl furfural, 0.82 g/L furfural, and 3.75 g/L total phenolics as inhibitors. To determine the effects of soluble sugars in HSS on fermentable sugar yield and inhibitor formation, sugar-removed HSS was further studied under the optimum conditions. Although prior removal of sugars exhibited a reduction in inhibitor generation, it also decreased total fermentable sugar production to 115.45 g/L.