Abstract
We determined the potential of three mechanical pulverizers—a continuous ball mill (CBM), an air classifier mill (ACM), and a high-speed mill (HSM)—in the continuous pretreatment of corn stover. The mean diameters of the pulverized biomasses were not significantly different in the three cases, and the glucose yields from the CBM-, ACM-, and HSM-pulverized samples were 29%, 49%, and 44%, respectively. The energy requirements and process capacities for the ACM and HSM were similar. We conclude that the ACM and HSM could be used in the continuous pretreatment of corn stover and would be useful in biofuel production.
Highlights
The “pretreatment” of lignocellulosic biomass is a process that enhances enzymatic digestibility by improving access to the enzymes
If the pulverizers used in this study are employed in conjunction with other chemical methods, glucose yield would increase, as in the study of Kim et al Another combinational pretreatment method, dry alkaline and centrifugal milling, had an energy efficiency of 0.888 ton-glucose/MWh [14], which was lower than that obtained with the air classifier mill (ACM) and high-speed mill (HSM)
Three commercially available pulverizers were tested for their applicability to the continuous pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomasses in terms of size reduction, enzyme hydrolysis, process capacity, and energy requirements
Summary
The “pretreatment” of lignocellulosic biomass is a process that enhances enzymatic digestibility by improving access to the enzymes. New industrial technologies, such as high hydrostatic pressure [19], high-pressure homogenizer [20], microwave [21], and ultrasound technologies [22], have been applied as green pretreatment methods for large-scale treatment of lignocellulosic biomasses. These technologies are not yet ready for industrial application because of high capital costs and insufficient proofs of concept [18]. If commercially available pulverizers can be employed for lignocellulosic biomass pretreatments, they can be used in the industry immediately, and would promote the industrialization of lignocellulosic biofuel production
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