Carbon dioxide as a pH-switch anti-solvent for biomass fractionation and pre-treatment with aqueous hydroxide solutions. Issue 9 (24th April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: To, Trang Quynh; Kenny, Ceire; Cheong, Soshan; Aldous, Leigh
• Is Part Of: Green chemistry. Volume 19:Issue 9(2017)
• Page Start: 2129
• Page End: 2134
• Publication Date: 2017-04-24
• Subjects: Environmental chemistry -- Industrial applications -- Periodicals; Environmental management -- Periodicals; 660
• DOI: 10.1039/c7gc00574a
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1463-9262

Abstract

Abstract : Hydroxide pre-treatment of rice husks allows enzymatic saccharification, carbon dioxide addition recovers silica, and calcium hydroxide addition completes the recycle. Abstract : Rice husks (or rice hulls) pre-treated with aqueous potassium hydroxide solutions showed excellent glucose yields during enzymatic saccharification. CO2 addition to the hydroxide solutions precipitated the dissolved rice husk silica as a nanoporous powder, while Ca(OH)2 addition regenerated the hydroxide solution and precipitated the dissolved lignin. Fractionation of the biomass was thus achieved using CO2 addition as a reversible pH-switch, and the hydroxide could be repeatedly recycled while maintaining biomass pre-treatment and fractionation efficacy.