Abstract
Fast pyrolysis is a comparable technology with enzyme or acid hydrolysis for saccharification of biomass. The low yield of levoglucosan and the formation of inhibitors to biocatalysts from lignocellulose hamper the fermentable utilization of pyrolysate. In this study, aiming to enhance the production of levoglucosan, dilute alkali pretreatment was performed prior to fast pyrolysis of corncobs. The yield of levoglucsoan from pretreated corncobs was significantly improved (34.8%) as compared to that from un-treated corncobs (3.0%), which was mainly attributed to the removal of alkaline and alkaline earth metals as well as lignin fraction by NaOH pretreatment. Conversely, NaOH pretreatment suppressed the formation of acids (from 11.1 to 2.2%), furans (from 2.5 to 2.0%), ketones (from 15.7 to 9.8%) and phenols (from 4.8 to 1.3%), which were common inhibitors to the biocatalysts. Accordingly, NaOH pretreatment facilitated further selective conversion of biomass in fast pyrolysis and made the pyrolysate more fermentable.
Published Version
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