Multilevel composition fractionation process for high-value utilization of wheat straw cellulose

Biotechnology for Biofuels

Hong-Zhang Chen²  Zhi-Hua Liu¹ 

[1] University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, Shijingshan District, PR China

[2] State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.1 Zhongguancun North Second Street, Beijing 100190, Haidian District, PR China

关键词: Regenerated cellulose film;    Ionic liquid;    Short fibers;    Long fibers;    High-value utilization;    Wheat straw biomass;    Ethanol extraction;    Steam explosion;    Multilevel composition fractionation process;   

Others  :  1084282
DOI  :  10.1186/s13068-014-0137-3

 received in 2014-01-25, accepted in 2014-09-03,  发布年份 2014

【 摘 要 】

Background

Biomass refining into multiple products has gained considerable momentum due to its potential benefits for economic and environmental sustainability. However, the recalcitrance of biomass is a major challenge in bio-based product production. Multilevel composition fractionation processes should be beneficial in overcoming biomass recalcitrance and achieving effective conversion of multiple compositions of biomass. The present study concerns the fractionation of wheat straw using steam explosion, coupled with ethanol extraction, and that this facilitates the establishment of sugars and lignin platform and enables the production of regenerated cellulose films.

Results

The results showed that the hemicellulose fractionation yield was 73% under steam explosion at 1.6 MPa for 5.2 minutes, while the lignin fractionation yield was 90% by ethanol extraction at 160°C for 2 hours and with 60% ethanol (v/v). The cellulose yield reached up to 93% after steam explosion coupled with ethanol extraction. Therefore, cellulose sugar, hemicellulose sugar, and lignin platform were established effectively in the present study. Long fibers (retained by a 40-mesh screening) accounted for 90% of the total cellulose fibers, and the glucan conversion of short fibers was 90% at 9.0 hours with a cellulase loading of 25 filter paper units/g cellulose in enzymatic hydrolysis. Regenerated cellulose film was prepared from long fibers using [bmim]Cl, and the tensile strength and breaking elongation was 120 MPa and 4.8%, respectively. The cross-section of regenerated cellulose film prepared by [bmim]Cl displayed homogeneous structure, which indicated a dense architecture and a better mechanical performance.

Conclusions

Multilevel composition fractionation process using steam explosion followed by ethanol extraction was shown to be an effective process by which wheat straw could be fractionated into different polymeric fractions with high yields. High-value utilization of wheat straw cellulose was achieved by preparing regenerated cellulose film using [bmim]Cl.

【 授权许可】

   
2014 Chen and Liu; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

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