Poster Presentation 6A-21

Enzymatic Saccharification and Fermentation of Dilute Sulfuric Acid-treated Lignocellulosics

 

Yun-Chin Chung,1 Alan Bakalinsky2 and Michael H. Penner2*

 

1Department of Food and Nutrition

Providence University, Taichun, Taiwan

2Department of Food Science and Technology

Oregon State University

Corvallis, OR, USA

Phone: (541)737-6513

Fax: (541) 737-1877

E-mail: Mike.Penner@oregonstate.edu

 

 

The cellulose reactivity of three lignocellulosic feedstocks, switchgrass, cornstover/corncob, and poplar, was evaluated under straight saccharification (SS) and simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) conditions following dilute sulfuric acid pretreatments designed for optimum xylose yields. The optimum pretreatment conditions, within the constraints of our system (Parr batch reactor), were 1.2% acid, 180oC, and 0.5 min. for switchgrass; 1% acid, 180oC, and .56 minutes for poplar; and 1.2% acid, 180oC, and 0.9 min for cornstover/corncobs. The cellulase enzyme preparation was from Trichoderma reesei and fermentations were done with Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Time courses for SS were monitored as the sum of glucose and cellobiose; those for SSF as the sum of glucose, cellobiose and ethanol. Percent conversions under SS conditions were 79.1%, 91.4% and 96.7% for the pretreated poplar, switchgrass and cornstover/corncob feedstocks, respectively. Analogous values under SSF conditions were 73.0%, 90.3% and 90.5% for pretreated poplar, switchgrass and cornstover/corncob, respectively.