Kinetic studies of hemicellulose hydrolysis of corn stover at atmospheric pressure

• Published in: The Korean journal of chemical engineering 2008, 25(2), 113, pp.302-307
• Main Authors: Lu, Xuebin, Zhang, Yimin, Liang, Ying, Yang, Jing, Zhang, Shuting, Suzuki, Eiji
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biotechnology; Catalysis; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Materials Science; 화학공학
• ISSN: 0256-1115; 1975-7220
• DOI: 10.1007/s11814-008-0053-y

The object of this work was to study the xylose production by hydrolysis of corn stover with diluted sulfuric acid at 100 °C. Several concentrations of H 2 SO 4 (2%, 4% and 6% w/w) and reaction time (0–300 min) were evaluated. Kinetic parameters of mathematical models for predicting the concentrations of xylose, glucose and furfural in the hydrolysates were found. Optimal conditions for hydrolysis were 5.5% H 2 SO 4 at 100 °C for 60 min; under these conditions, 86.7% of xylose yield and 2.82 g/g selectivity were attained, leading to liquors containing up to 18.73 g/ l xylose, 6.64 g/ l glucose and 0.63 g/ l furfural. The models could be successfully used to predict the concentrations of xylose, glucose and furfural within 0–300 min under experimental acid concentrations. Furthermore, the hydrolysis process of corn stover using dilute acid could be conceived as the first stage of an integrated strategy for corn stover utilization.