Ethanol production from residual lignocellulosic fibers generated through the steam treatment of whole sorghum biomass. (November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Boboescu, Iulian-Zoltan; Damay, Jérémie; Chang, James Kong Win; Beigbeder, Jean-Baptiste; Duret, Xavier; Beauchemin, Sophie; Lalonde, Olivier; Lavoie, Jean-Michel
• Is Part Of: Bioresource technology. Volume 292(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-11
• Subjects: Whole sweet sorghum -- Delignification -- Cellulose hydrolysis -- Steam explosion -- Lignocellulosic ethanol; Biomass -- Periodicals; Biomass energy -- Periodicals; Bioremediation -- Periodicals; Agricultural wastes -- Periodicals; Factory and trade waste -- Periodicals; Organic wastes -- Periodicals; Bioénergie -- Périodiques; Déchets agricoles -- Périodiques; Déchets industriels -- Périodiques; Déchets organiques -- Périodiques; Déchets (Combustible) -- Périodiques; 662.88
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.121975
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-8524

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Cellulosic carbohydrates were recovered from residual sorghum lignocelluloses. ASTM international and the novel SACH cellulose hydrolysis approaches were compared. A maximum of 24.3 wt% of cellulosic carbohydrates (dw) were recovered using SACH. 51.7 wt% total free and constitutive sorghum carbohydrates were recovered. Fermentation assays suggested 6378 L/ha/year when sorghum was cultivated in Canada. Abstract: Cellulosic ethanol could play a major role in the upcoming circular-economy once the process complexity, low carbohydrate extraction yields and high costs are resolved. To this purpose, different steam-treatment severity factors were employed on whole sweet sorghum biomass, followed by the delignification and hydrolysis of resulted lignocellulose fibers. A modified ASTM International (American Society for Testing and Material) standard cellulose hydrolysis approach as well as a newly developed SACH (Sulfuric Acid Cellulose Hydrolysis) process were used, recovering up to 24.3 wt% of cellulosic carbohydrates. This amounted to a total extractable and constitutive carbohydrate recovery of 51.7 wt% (dry basis) when a mild steam-treatment of whole sorghum biomass and the SACH cellulose hydrolysis were employed. An ethanol potential of 6378 L/ha/year was determined, comparable to values obtained from biomass such as sugarcane in warmer climates, supporting thus the opportunity of implementing this novel approach on a wider scale.