Different Types Of Pretreatment Research Articles

Impact of refrigerated storage on (bio)chemical conversions of health-related compounds in pretreated, pasteurized Brussels sprouts and leek

Vegetable processing often consists of multiple processing steps. Research mostly focused on the impact of individual processing steps on individual health-related compounds. However, there is a need for more holistic approaches to understand the overall impact of the processing chain on the health potential of vegetables. Therefore, this work studied the impact of pretreatment (relatively intact versus pureed vegetable systems), pasteurization and subsequent refrigerated storage (kinetic evaluation) on multiple health-related compounds (vitamin C, vitamin K1, carotenoids, glucosinolates and S-alk(en)yl-L-cysteine sulfoxides (ACSOs)) in Brussels sprouts and leek. It could be shown that differences introduced by different types of pretreatment were not nullified during pasteurization and refrigerated storage. Clearly, enzymatic conversions controlled during pretreatment resulted in different health-related compound profiles still observable after pasteurization. Moreover, about −42% and −100% relative concentration differences of ACSOs and dehydroascorbic acid, respectively, were detected immediately after pasteurization, while glucosinolates concentrations decreased by about 47% during refrigerated storage. All other compounds were stable during pasteurization and refrigerated storage.

Fracture in elongational flow of two low-density polyethylene melts

Samples of two commercial low-density polyethylene melts were investigated with respect to their fracture behavior in controlled uniaxial extensional flow at constant strain rate in a filament stretching rheometer. In order to assess the possible influence of grain boundaries on fracture, the samples were prepared by three different types of pre-treatment: by compression molding of (1) virgin pellets used as received, (2) pellets homogenized in a twin-screw extruder, and (3) pellets that were milled into powder by cryogenic grinding under liquid nitrogen. The elongational stress growth data were analyzed by the Extended Hierarchical Multi-mode Molecular Stress Function (EHMMSF) model developed by Wagner et al. (Rheol. Acta 61, 281-298 (2022)) for long-chain branched (LCB) polymer melts. The EHMMSF model quantifies the elongational stress growth including the maximum in the elongational viscosity of LDPE melts based solely on the linear-viscoelastic relaxation spectrum and two nonlinear material parameters, the dilution modulus GD and a characteristic stretch parameter {overline{lambda}}_m. Within experimental accuracy, model predictions are in excellent agreement with the elongational stress growth data of the two LDPE melts, independent of the preparation method used. At sufficiently high strain rates, the fracture of the polymer filaments was observed and is in general accordance with the entropic fracture criterion implemented in the EHMMSF model. High-speed videography reveals that fracture is preceded by parabolic crack opening, which is characteristic for elastic fracture and which has been observed earlier in filament stretching of monodisperse polystyrene solutions. Here, for the first time, we demonstrate the appearance of a parabolic crack opening in the fracture process of polydisperse long-chain branched polyethylene melts.

Зависимость показателей эксплуатационных свойств азотированных сталей от структурного состояния поверхностного слоя

The results of structural and tribological studies of steels and alloys of pearlite, martensitic and austenitic classes using dif-ferent types of pretreatment and nitriding modes are presented. The results of tribological tests and metallophysical studies made it possible to evaluate the effectiveness of each of used treatment methods and to identify the characteristics of the structural state of the nitrided layer, contributing to an increase in the operational properties of steels in friction and wear conditions. A comprehensive physical and mechanical criterion has been developed to evaluate friction components nitrid-ing efficiency.

Effect of harvesting time in the methane production on the anaerobic digestion of microalgae

ABSTRACT Microalgae are being proposed as excellent substrates for different biorefinery processes. Anaerobic digestion process of microalgae is one of these interesting processes but has some limitations in deleting cell walls. For this reason, many studies proposed different types of pre-treatments, entailing energy, operation, and investment costs. This work aims to optimize the anaerobic digestion of the microalgae Chlorella sorokiniana and Chlorella sorokiniana (strain S12/S13/S16) without any pre-treatment by selecting the optimal harvesting time. The greatest influence is seen at 5:00 PM in methane production for both microalgae. For Chlorella sorokiniana, it is the most optimal moment for anaerobic digestion, whereas Chlorella sorokiniana (strain S12/S13/S16) is the least optimal. In the other harvesting times, both microalgae present a similar methane production, i.e. 173 ± 12 mL CH4/g of total volatile solids. The highest methane production rate values were obtained during peak sunlight, 1:00 PM and 8:00 AM, respectively, and lower overnight.

The Influence of Pretreatment on the Efficiency of Electrochemical Processes in Oily Wastewater Treatment

Wastewater containing oil is becoming a growing problem worldwide due to increasing quantities and existing pollution. The pollutants contained in these effluents, when released into the environment, affect surface and groundwater pollution, endanger human life and health, and pollute the atmosphere. Their sustainable treatment should be cost-effective and meet all requirements to prevent the pollutants from being transferred to the environment or to humans. This study gives a brief overview of some conventional and modern technologies that have been proven in practice for the treatment of oily wastewater. Due to the high concentrations of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total hydrocarbons (mineral oils) in oily wastewater its treatment is complex, and to achieve optimum treatment conditions and efficiency a combination of different technologies is required. This paper focuses on hybrid electrochemical process combining the electro-Fenton process (EF) using stainless steel (SS), and electrocoagulation (EC) with iron (Fe) and aluminum (Al) electrodes. The influence of the two different types of pretreatment, i.e., pretreatment of the raw wastewater on the overall efficiency of oily wastewater treatment using a hybrid treatment process, which is a combination of AOP and EC, is investigated. Two type of pretreatment were tested, with primary sedimentation and pretreatment of the mixture of raw wastewater and previously generated electrochemical sludge with primary sedimentation. During the applied treatment processes, the concentration of COD, mineral oils, and other elements in the raw and treated wastewater (As, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sn, Zn) and in the generated sludge (K, Ca, Fe, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Br, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Pb, Th) were determined. By combining the primary sedimentation of the raw wastewater with the EF/EC process, a mineral oil removal efficiency of 72% (1.1 mg/L) and COD of 89% (170 mg/L) was achieved. Using primary sedimentation of a mixture of raw wastewater with previously generated sludge as pretreatment and followed by EF/EC treatment, a higher efficiency for mineral oils of 94% (7.6 mg/L) and COD of 98% (43 mg/L) was achieved.

Effect of Different Types of Substrates on the Growth and Development of Khaya Senegalensis (Desr) A. Juss

In Senegal, Khaya senegalensis is subject to abusive and illegal exploitation, thus compromising its regeneration and the survival of its natural stand. It is in this context that this study aims to contribute to the reconstitution of Khaya senegalensis stands through the production of information allowing an optimal production of seedlings of this species in the nursery. The chosen device is a device in randomized complete blocks or Fischer blocks with 3 blocks or repetitions. Each block has 10 treatments with 20 sheaths each. The parameters studied are the height of the plants, the diameter at the collar, and the number of leaves of each plant. The analysis of the results obtained indicates that the greatest average plant heights were recorded with the compost (C) and the sand+compost (SC) treatments with 12.71 cm and 12.25 cm respectively. The lowest average heights (6.7 cm) were observed with sand (S) and sand mixed with potting soil (ST) with heights of 6.7 cm and 8.91 cm respectively. The largest diameter at the collar of Khaya senegalensis plants was obtained with the sand compost substrate (0.38 cm) and the smallest (0.25 cm) was observed with the sand substrate. The lowest leaf production is noted on the sand substrate alone (4.6 leaves/plant). However, it seems appropriate to continue this study by evaluating the effect of different types of pretreatments on the germination of Khaya senegalensis seeds in order to establish the basis for rapid production of Khaya senegalensis seedlings in the nursery.

Influence of pretreatment and mechanical nanofibrillation energy on properties of nanofibers from Aspen cellulose

The characteristics of cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) depend on many factors such as the raw material, type and intensity of the pre-treatment, and type and severity of the mechanical defibrillation process. The relationship among factors is complex but crucial in determining the final, fit-for-use CNF properties. This study aims to find the relationship between the CNF properties morphology, aspect ratio, nanofibrillation yield, transmittance and cationic demand, and the production process using bleached Aspen thermomechanical pulp as the raw material. Five different types of pretreatments were carried out and five different defibrillation intensities of high-pressure homogenization were evaluated. Pretreatments were: PFI refining at 20,000 revolutions, enzymatic hydrolysis with 80 and 240 g of enzyme per ton of dry pulp and TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl)–mediated oxidation with 5 and 15 mmol of NaClO per gram of dry pulp. From the twenty-five different procedures evaluated, results show that both the pretreatment and the severity of the high-pressure homogenization determined both the fibrillation yield and the CNF morphology. Moreover, the main properties of CNFs (cationic demand, yield, transmittance and aspect ratio) can be estimated from the carboxylic content of the pretreated pulp, which would facilitate the control of the CNF production and their tuning according to the production needs.

Residual fractions from arthrospira platensis protein extraction as feedstock for ethanol production

Microalgae are promising raw materials for biorefinery systems as they are rich in nutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins, pigments). Although there are different studies on the production of ethanol from microalgae with different types of pre-treatments for the utilisation of whole biomass, researches of ethanol production from residues of protein extraction from defatted biomass of Arthrospira platensis biomass has not been found in the literature. In this context, the objective of this study was to use the residues of the protein extraction process to produce ethanol (byproduct) in a biorefinery concept. Enzymatic hydrolysis (pH 5.5; 50 °C) were carried out with different concentrations (0.5, 1.0, 1.5% (v/v)) of the enzymes α-amylase and amyloglucosidase (AMG), added simultaneously. For the fermentation stage conducted with Saccharomyces cerevisiae, four different media were tested (H – pure hydrolysate; C1 – control 1, reduced sugars in the same proportion of medium H; C2 – control 2, simulating the production of sugarcane ethanol; HS – hydrolysate supplemented with nutrients in order to obtain the same composition as C2). The medium H presented better results than the others, it produced 8.06 g/L of ethanol over 12 h, with a 100% theoretical yield of ethanol. These results indicate that the nutrients present in the hydrolysate of the residual fractions were sufficient to promote yeast growth and ethanol production. Moreover, the results from this work show the feasibility to obtain protein concentrate and ethanol from Arthrospira platensis, in an integrated process. HIGHTLIGHTS It was possible to perform an integrated process to extract proteins and produce bioethanol from S. platensis. Nutrients on hydrolysate from residual fractions was sufficient to promote yeast growth and bioethanol production. Bioethanol production from hydrolysed residual fractions was 100% efficient.

Sustainable green strategy for recovery of glucose from end-of-life euro banknotes

Usually, Euro banknotes are made from cotton substrates and their waste is disposed of in landfill or is incinerated. In order to valorize the end-of-life euro banknotes (ELEBs), the substrates were used in this research for cellulase production via submerged fungal fermentation (SFF), and the resultant fungal cellulase w s used in ELEBs hydrolysis process for extraction of glucose. The experiments were started by exposing the ELEBs to different types of pretreatments, including milling process, alkali (NaOH/urea solution), and acid leaching to remove any contamination (e.g. dyes) and to decrease the crystallinity of cellulose (the main element in cotton substrate) thus increasing the degradation rate during the fermentation process. The effect of pretreatments on the morphology and chemical composition of ELEBs was observed using Scanning Electron Microscope and Energy Dispersive Spectrometry. Afterwards, Trichoderma reesei-DSM76 was used for cellulase production from the treated ELEBs with high cellulase activity (12.97 FPU/g). The resultant cellulase was upscaled in a bioreactor and used in ELEBs hydrolysis. Finally, the results showed that the optimized pretreatment methods (milling followed by leaching process) significantly improved the cellulase activity and glucose recovery, which was estimated by 96%. According to the obtained results, the developed strategy has a great potential for conversion of ELEBs into a glucose product that could be used in biofuels and bioplastics applications.

Pretreatment of lignocelluloses for enhanced biogas production: A review on influencing mechanisms and the importance of microbial diversity

As one of the most efficient methods for waste management and sustainable energy production, anaerobic digestion (AD) countenances difficulties in the hydrolysis of lignocelluloses biomass. Different pretreatment methods have been applied to make lignocelluloses readily biodegradable by microorganisms. These pretreatments can affect biogas yield by different mechanisms at molecular scale, including changes in chemical composition, cellulose crystallinity, degree of polymerization, enzyme adsorption/desorption, nutrient accessibility, deacetylation, and through the formation of inhibitors. The present article aims at critically reviewing the reported molecular mechanisms affecting biogas yield from lignocelluloses via different types of pretreatments. Then, a new hypothesis concerning the impact of pretreatment on the microbial community developed (throughout the AD process from an identical inoculum) was also put forth and was experimentally examined through a case study. Four different leading pretreatments, including sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide, aqueous ammonia, and sodium carbonate, were performed on rice straw as model lignocellulosic feedstock. The results obtained revealed that the choice of pretreatment method also plays a pivotally positive or negative role on biogas yield obtained from lignocelluloses through alteration of the microbial community involved in the AD. Considerable changes were observed in the archaeal and bacterial communities developed in response to the pretreatment used. Sodium hydroxide, with the highest methane yield (338 mL/g volatile solid), led to a partial switch from acetoclastic to the hydrogenotrophic methane production pathway. The findings reported herein undermine the default hypothesis accepted by thousands of previously published papers, which is changes in substrate characteristics by pretreatments are the only mechanisms affecting biogas yield. Moreover, the results obtained could assist with the development of more efficient biogas production systems at industrial scale by offering more in-depth understanding of the interactions between microbial community structure, and process parameters and performance.

Experimental investigation of biodiesel production from Madhuca longifolia seed through in situ transesterification and its kinetics and thermodynamic studies.

The present investigation aims to develop simultaneous extraction and conversion of inedible Madhuca longifolia seed oil into biodiesel by one-step acid-catalyzed in situ transesterification/reactive extraction process. Six different types of pretreatment were used to assess maximum yield of biodiesel. The maximum yield of 96% biodiesel was acquired with ultrasonic pretreatment at 1% moisture content, 0.61 mm seed grain size, 55 °C temperature, 400 rpm stirring speed, 15 wt% catalyst (H2SO4) concentration, and with 1:35 seed oil to methanol ratio in a time period of 180 min. This reaction kinetics precedes first order also the finest value of rate constant and activation energy were calculated as 0.003 min-1 and 14.840 kJ mol-1. The thermodynamic energy properties ΔG, ΔH, and ΔS are computed as 96457.172 J/mol, 12121.812 J/mol K, and - 257.12 J/mol K correspondingly. The enumerated outcome illustrates a heat absorb non-spontaneous/endergonic and endothermal reaction. The result of proposed work unveils ultrasonic pretreatment escalates the biodiesel efficiency and reactive extraction exemplifies the clean, cost-effective single-step approach for production of biodiesel from non-edible sources.

Improvement of Biogas Production by Sequential Pretreatment of Rice Straw and Coconut Shell for Power Generation Applications

Different pretreatment methods (milling, ultrasonication, liquid hot water, and alkali hydrolysis) were evaluated on rice straw and coconut shell biomass as a substrate for biogas production for vehicle fuel, provide heat and generate electricity. This was achieved by the sequential combination of ultrasonication, hot water, and alkali hydrolysis treatment at (4% and 5% w/v) concentration was evaluated. Additionally, Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy was used in identifying structural differences and identification of compounds in the treated biomass. The results show that the combination of ultrasonication-alkali hydrolysis, hot liquid water using 3% of NaOH improved methane yield of 150% for rice straw and 290% for coconut shell compared with the original treatment. Moreover, the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) methodology identified modifications in the biomass structure after different types of pretreatment and conditions. The results of this research are the initial steps for the development of new processes using the Ultrasonication-NaOH LHW pretreatment, for the production of biogas from agricultural biomass waste.

Isolation and characterization of cellulose nanofibers from aspen wood using derivatizing and non-derivatizing pretreatments

The link between wood and corresponding cellulose nanofiber (CNF) behavior is complex owing the multiple chemical pretreatments required for successful preparation. In this study we apply a few pretreatments on aspen wood and compare the final CNF behavior in order to rationalize quantitative studies of CNFs derived from aspen wood with variable properties. This is relevant for efforts to improve the properties of woody biomass through tree breeding. Three different types of pretreatments were applied prior to disintegration (microfluidizer) after a mild pulping step; derivatizing TEMPO-oxidation, carboxymethylation and non-derivatizing soaking in deep-eutectic solvents. TEMPO-oxidation was also performed directly on the plain wood powder without pulping. Obtained CNFs (44–55% yield) had hemicellulose content between 8 and 26 wt% and were characterized primarily by fine (height ≈ 2 nm) and coarser (2 nm < height < 100 nm) grade CNFs from the derivatizing and non-derivatizing treatments, respectively. Nanopapers from non-derivatized CNFs had higher thermal stability (280 °C) compared to carboxymethylated (260 °C) and TEMPO-oxidized (220 °C). Stiffness of nanopapers made from non-derivatized treatments was higher whilst having less tensile strength and elongation-at-break than those made from derivatized CNFs. The direct TEMPO-oxidized CNFs and nanopapers were furthermore morphologically and mechanically indistinguishable from those that also underwent a pulping step. The results show that utilizing both derivatizing and non-derivatizing pretreatments can facilitate studies of the relationship between wood properties and final CNF behavior. This can be valuable when studying engineered trees for the purpose of decreasing resource consumption when isolation cellulose nanomaterials.Graphic abstract

Comparison and intrinsic correlation analysis based on composition, microstructure and enzymatic hydrolysis of corn stover after different types of pretreatments

Pretreatment is a key step in the energy utilization of lignocellulosic biomass. Different types of pretreatments (ultrafine grinding pretreatment, alkaline hydroxide peroxide pretreatment, dilute acid pretreatment, and ammonia fiber expansion pretreatment) were conducted on corn stover. The lignocellulosic composition, microstructural parameters, and glucose yield of differently pretreated corn stover were characterized and compared. Then qualitative and quantitative correlation analyses of the parameters were carried out to explore the correlations among the composition, microstructure properties, and enzymatic hydrolysis efficacy of corn stover after different types of pretreatments and identify the main properties affecting enzymatic hydrolysis. Qualitative correlation analysis found that cellulose content, specific surface area, pore volume, enzyme-accessible pore volume, and surface area of cellulose had significant positive correlations with glucose yield. The results of quantitative correlation analysis were GY = 15.01 × cellulose content-339.05, GY = 13.06 × SSA + 172.35, GY = 7226.27 × PV + 129.14, GY = 8628.61 × EAPV + 125.61, and GY = 1.18 × SAC-287.21.

Experimental Investigation on the Sequential Pretreatment of Agricultural Biomass Wastes for Increased Biogas Production

Objectives: In the present work, different pretreatment methods (milling, ultrasonication, liquid hot water, and alkali hydrolysis) were evaluated on rice straw and coconut shell that can be used as a substrate for biogas production for vehicle fuel, provide heat and generate electricity. Methods: This was achieved by the sequential combination of ultrasonication, hot water, and alkali hydrolysis treatment at a various concentration (4% and 5% w/v) was evaluated. Additionally, Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) was used as one of the methods in identifying structural differences and identification of compounds in the treated biomass. Findings: The results showed that the combination of ultrasonication-alkali hydrolysis, hot liquid water using 3% of NaOH improved methane yield of 150% for rice straw and 290% for coconut shell compared with the original treatment. Additionally, FT-IR identified modifications in the biomass structure after different types of pretreatments and conditions. Application: The results of this research are the initial steps for the development of new processes using the Ultrasonication-NaOH LHW pretreatment, for the production of biogas from agricultural biomass waste. Keywords: Biogas, Co-Digestion, Liquid Hot Water, Methane, Pretreatment, Ultrasonication

Sexual and Vegetative Propagation of Hypericum empetrifolium Willd. subsp. empetrifolium

Hypericum empetrifolium Willd. subsp. empetrifolium is an evergreen small shrub with small elongated decorative leaves and small yellow flowers in inflorescences, characterized for several pharmaceutical properties. In the present study, a first approach on the sexual and asexual propagation of this species was performed. Seeds, subjected to different types of pre-treatments [soaked in tap water; 50, 100 or 150 mg L-1 GA3 for 30 min and no treatment (control)], cultured for germination in petri dishes at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 °C. Seed germination was only affected by temperature and the best result was obtained at 15 °C (71.2%). A significant interaction was found between pre-treatments and incubation temperature with the highest germination percentage (82%) occurred when the seeds soaked in 100 mg L-1 GA3 solution for 30 min and incubated at 20 °C constant temperature. Moreover, the germination speed was fastest from 20 to 25 °C (T50= 9.84 and 9.56 days for 20 and 25 °C, respectively). For asexual propagation, apical stem cuttings were taken at four different periods (4 seasons) and treated with IBA at concentrations of 0, 1000, 2000 and 3000 mg L-1. The cuttings were planted in a peat/perlite mixture 1:1 v/v in plastic square plug trays in order to study the rooting percentage. Winter was the most appropriate season for cuttings collection (100% rooting percentage) and dipping in 1000 or 2000 mg L-1 IBA (72% and 73%, respectively) was the best rooting hormone treatment.

Enhancing Anaerobic Digestion: The Effect of Carbon Conductive Materials

Anaerobic digestion is a well-known technology which has been extensively studied to improve its performance and yield biogas from substrates. The application of different types of pre-treatments has led to an increase in biogas production but also in global energy demand. However, in recent years the use of carbon conductive materials as supplement for this process has been studied resulting in an interesting way for improving the performance of anaerobic digestion without greatly affecting its energy demand. This review offers an introduction to this interesting approach and covers the different experiences performed on the use of carbon conductive materials proposing it as a feasible alternative for the production of energy from biomass, considering also the integration of anaerobic digestion and thermal valorisation.

Enhancement of Molybdenum/ZSM‐5 Catalysts in Methane Aromatization by the Addition of Iron Promoters and by Reduction/Carburization Pretreatment

AbstractThe influence of an Fe additive and different types of pretreatment were studied on HZSM‐5‐supported molybdenum oxide (MoOx) catalysts for methane aromatization. The catalytic behavior of catalysts that consist of 6 wt % Mo/ZSM‐5 with 0, 0.2, and 1 wt % Fe was tested with two types of pretreatment: 1) heating under He flow and 2) reduction in H2/CH4 and carburization in CH4. Under He pretreatment, the addition of 0.2 wt % Fe improved the benzene yield, but the addition of 1 % Fe decreased it slightly. Precarburization of the catalysts resulted in enhanced catalytic properties for all Fe loadings and improved the catalyst stability. The precarburized 6 wt % Mo–0.2 wt %Fe catalyst presented the highest benzene yield (6.9 %), which was almost stable in the subsequent 10 h test. The fresh and spent catalysts were characterized by using XRD, N2 adsorption, temperature‐programmed reduction, SEM, temperature‐programmed oxidation, and thermogravimetric analysis. The results show that the precarburized catalysts are more stable because of the formation of smaller amounts of carbon deposits and, consequently, less pore blockage. The addition of Fe causes the carbon deposits to be more reactive and easier to burn off. Higher Fe loadings are linked to the formation of carbon nanotubes.

Separation of Cultivars of Soybeans by Chemometric Methods Using Near Infrared Spectroscopy

Near Infrared (NIR) Spectroscopy technique combined with chemometrics methods were used to group and identify samples of different soy cultivars. Spectral data, collected in the range of 714 to 2500 nm (14000 to 4000 cm-1), were obtained from whole grains of four different soybean cultivars and were submitted to different types of pre-treatments. Chemometrics algorithms were applied to extract relevant information from the spectral data, to remove the anomalous samples and to group the samples. The best results were obtained considering the spectral range from 1900.6 to 2187.7 nm (5261.4 cm-1 to 4570.9 cm-1) and with spectral treatment using Multiplicative Signal Correction (MSC) + Baseline Correct (linear fit), what made it possible to the exploratory techniques Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) to separate the cultivars. Thus, the results demonstrate that NIR spectroscopy allied with de chemometrics techniques can provide a rapid, nondestructive and reliable method to distinguish different cultivars of soybeans.

Different Types of Thermochemical Pretreatment and Optimization of Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Groundnut Shell

The present study deals with the comparison of different types of pretreatment (thermo-dilute acid, thermo-dilute alkaline, microwave assisted thermo-dilute acid and microwave assisted thermo-dilute alkaline) of groundnut shell. Based on structural characterization (Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy) and reducing sugar yield, microwave assisted thermo-dilute alkaline pretreatment was found to be most suitable pretreatment option. Further enzymatic hydrolysis process of microwave assisted thermo-dilute alkaline pretreated biomass was optimized using statistical technique. Maximum reducing sugar yield (487.5 mg/g dry substrate) was found at substrate concentration 12%, tween 80 concentration 0.12% and incubation time 48 h. The present study showed that higher reducing sugar can be obtained at high substrate concentration from microwave assisted thermo-dilute alkaline pretreated biomass within shorter incubation time.