Abstract
Lignin is a key factor limiting saccharification of lignocellulosic feedstocks. In this comparative study, various lignin methods—including acetyl bromide lignin (ABL), acid detergent lignin (ADL), Klason lignin (KL), and modified ADL and KL determination methods—were evaluated for their potential to assess saccharification efficiency. Six diverse accessions of the bioenergy crop miscanthus were used for this analysis, which included accessions of Miscanthus sinensis, Miscanthus sacchariflorus, and hybrid species. Accessions showed large variation in lignin content. Lignin estimates were different between methods, but (highly) correlated to each other (0.54 ≤ r ≤ 0.94). The strength of negative correlations to saccharification efficiency following either alkaline or dilute acid pretreatment differed between lignin estimates. The strongest and most consistent correlations (−0.48 ≤ r ≤ −0.85) were obtained with a modified Klason lignin method. This method is suitable for high throughput analysis and was the most effective in detecting differences in lignin content (p < 0.001) between accessions.
Highlights
Biomass is an abundant source of carbon that can be used for the production of biofuels
Approximately 85 % of the dry biomass consisted of cell wall material, ~46 % consisted of cellulose and ~31 % consisted of hemicellulosic polysaccharides
Within the panel of miscanthus accessions, large variation was present in the contents of cellulose, ranging from ~43 to ~48.5 %, and hemicellulosic polysaccharides, ranging from ~27 to ~34 %
Summary
Biomass is an abundant source of carbon that can be used for the production of biofuels. Lignin is one of the key components limiting the conversion of biomass into biofuel It cross-links to hemicellulosic polysaccharides to form a highly impermeable matrix that imparts strength to the plant cell wall and shields cellulose— the main source of fermentable sugars—from chemical and enzymatic hydrolysis [5,6,7,8]. It impedes the efficiency of enzymatic saccharification by irreversibly adsorbing hydrolytic enzymes, which renders them ineffective [9, 7]. As lignin is one of the most important barriers in the conversion of biomass into biofuels, reducing lignin content (or altering its composition) in bioenergy crops is critical to reduce processing costs and increase the cost-competitiveness of cellulosic biofuels [10, 11]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 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.
