Autothermal, single-stage, performic acid pretreatment of Miscanthus x giganteus for the rapid fractionation of its biomass components into a lignin/hemicellulose-rich liquor and a cellulase-digestible pulp

Donncha Haverty, Karla Dussan, A. V. Piterina, J. J. Leahy, M. H.B. Hayes

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

A novel approach to the performic acid pulping of biomass enables effective delignification and fractionation in a time frame not achieved heretofore. An autothermal decomposition reaction was triggered when 100mg/L Fe 2(SO 4) 3 in 4.0M NaOH was added to 5% or 7.5% H 2O 2 in aqueous formic acid containing chipped Miscanthus x giganteus. Peroxy-decomposition resulted in pressures of 19 and 35bar in the 5% and 7.5% peroxide liquors and reduced the lignin content in the resulting pulps to <6% within 140 and 30min, respectively. Solubilised lignin was available for recovery from the liquor by subsequent dilution with water. Hemicellulose removal to the liquor was 68% and 89% for the 5% and 7.5% peroxide solutions. Crystalline cellulose yields were >99% and >95% and the rate of glucose release from cellulase digestion of the pulps in 24h was more than 20-fold that for the raw Miscanthus.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)173-177
Number of pages5
JournalBioresource Technology
Volume109
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2012

Keywords

  • Biorefining
  • Cellulose hydrolysis
  • Delignification
  • Lignocellulose
  • Performic acid pretreatment

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