Abstract
An autohydrolysis pretreatment that suppresses lignin repolymerisation helps overcoming the recalcitrance of softwood for enzymatic hydrolysis of its cellulose.
Highlights
Lignocellulosic biomass like wood, agricultural side products or energy crops is a potential renewable source for the production of chemicals and fuels
This study presents a modified autohydrolysis pretreatment which helps to overcome the recalcitrance of softwood for enzymatic hydrolysis of its cellulose
Several analyses were performed to study the underlying mechanism of this effect on hydrolysis, indicating that cellulolytic enzymes are adsorbed and deactivated especially by repolymerised lignin structures, which accounts for the high differences in biomass digestibility
Summary
Lignocellulosic biomass like wood, agricultural side products or energy crops is a potential renewable source for the production of chemicals and fuels. Hemicellulose is solubilised and removed, while lignin is practically not removed and remains in the solid phase together with cellulose.[5] This is one reason why autohydrolysis pretreatments are not effective for softwood whose lignin forms a big obstacle for enzymatic hydrolysis. Another important factor might be repolymerisation reactions (sometimes referred to as condensation reactions) of the lignin which take place during the pretreatment. What is its potential for overcoming the high recalcitrance of softwood, i.e. to what extent can sugar yields be enhanced? Second, in which way do lignin structures that repolymerise in autohydrolysis hinder the enzymatic hydrolysability?
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