Steam exploded biomass

02 March 2017 - Biomass pretreatment: effect of steam explosion

02 March 2017 - Biomass pretreatment: effect of steam explosion

In the frame of the Futurol project dedicated to the production of second generation bioethanol, steam explosion pretreatment is a prerequisite to increase the enzymatic conversion of the recalcitrant lignocellulose.

Today, there is still considerable debate regarding the key features of biomass impacting the cellulase accessibility. In this study, we have evaluated the structural and chemical features of three different representative biomasses (miscanthus, poplar and wheat straw), before and after steam explosion pretreatment at increasing severities, by monitoring chemical analysis, SEM, FTIR and 2D NMR. Results obtained have provided an enhanced understanding of parameters impacting biomass recalcitrance, which can be easily generalized to both woody and non-woody biomass species. Following pretreatment, hemicellulose removal accompanied by the significant reduction in the cross-linking phenolic acids and the redistribution of lignin are strongly correlated with the enzymatic saccharification, by loosening the cell wall structure thus allowing easier cellulase accessibility. By contrast, we have shown that the changes in the syringyl/guaiacyl ratio and the cellulose crystallinity do not seem to be relevant factors in assessing the enzymatic digestibility. Overall, some biomass type-dependent and easily measurable infra-red factors are highly correlated to saccharification.

Read: Auxenfans T, Crônier D, Chabbert B, Paës G. Understanding the structural and chemical changes of plant biomass following steam explosion pretreatment. Biotechnology for Biofuels 2017, 10, 36. DOI

Contact: Dr Gabriel PAËS, gabriel.paes@inra.fr

Modification date : 06 June 2023 | Publication date : 01 March 2017 | Redactor : G. Paës