The focus of this study was s systematic evaluation on polysaccharide and lignin degradation products during hydrothermal pretreatment of sweet sorghum. The influences of the pretreatment conditions on the degradation products (such as xylooligosaccharides, acetic acid, furfural, and hydroxymethylfurfural) were systematically investigated. It was found that the maximum yield of xylooligosaccharides of 55.71% was achieved in the case of the material pretreated at a relatively high temperature (170 °C) for a short reaction time (0.5 h) with a relatively low level of xylose and other degradation products. Higher temperature (&gt; 170 °C) and/or longer reaction time (&gt; 0.5 h at 170 °C) reduced the yield of xylooligosaccharides, but enhanced concentrations of monosaccharides (arabinose and galactose) and other degradation products. All the results indicated that the degradation of the polysaccharides and lignins occurred under the harsh pretreatment conditions. These findings will result in a potential utilization of the degradation products obtained in a current environmentally friendly biorefinery process, and enhance the economic benefit of the green biorefinery.

Systematic evaluation on degradation products during hydrothermal pretreatment of sweet sorghum basis for biorefinery

249th National Meeting (2015)

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