Abstract
Objectives: The current research uses stems and leaves from corn stover for the application of urea pretreatment, in order to evaluate the most favorable conditions for the obtention of reducing sugars. Methods: Biomass particles with sizes of 0.5 and 2.0 mm were subjected to urea pretreatment (2.0 %w/v and 5.0 %w/v). Quantification of reducing sugars was performed using the DNS method and a calibration curve. Findings: The maximum value of total reducing sugars for the stems fraction (35.76 g/L) was reported when the particle size and the urea concentration were 0.5 mm and 5.0 %w/v, respectively. Corn stover leaves fraction obtained its highest result (59.65 g/L) using 0.5 mm particles size and 2.0 %w/v urea. Application/Improvements: This research contributes to the studies about urea pretreatment and its effect in different corn stover fractions. Keywords: Corn Stover, Lignocellulosic, Pretreatment, Reducing Sugars, Urea
Highlights
Cob is the main product of corn crops; the remaining parts of the plant are considered waste
Amount of Total Reducing Sugars (TRS) was increased by 26% using a particle size of 0.5 mm and 5.0 %w/v aqueous urea, when compared to the samples that were pretreated with 2.0 %w/v aqueous urea and the same particle size
The results reported in this study are similar to the obtained by[22], in which was studied a mixture of Urea/CHCl to break the structure of rice straw, the solvent allowed to increase the solubization rate, degree of crystalline and α-cellulose availability, it helped to decrease lignin content of the samples
Summary
Cob is the main product of corn crops; the remaining parts of the plant are considered waste. Open burning is used as disposal medium for these residues[1,2] which generates negative effects in the soil[3] and harmful emissions into the environment[4]. Corn stover content consists of a matrix of hemicellulose (15-35%) and lignin (10-20%)[15]. This complex constitutes a strong barrier, which generates mechanic resistance when trying to release cellulose for its subsequent conversions[13]. Lignin function is to give support to the plant, being an important part of the vegetal cell walls
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