Steam explosion-ionic liquid pretreatments on wetland lignocellulosic biomasses of Phragmites(sp.) and Thalia dealbatafor Bio H sub(2) conversion

• Published in: RSC advances 2014-08, Vol.4 (69), p.36603-36614
• Main Authors: Peng, Hongyun, Gao, Lingling, Li, Mengjiao, Shen, Yibin, Qian, Qiongqiu, Li, Xia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomass; Cellulose; Conversion; Lignocellulose; Plants (organisms); Pretreatment; Thermogravimetry; Wetlands
• ISSN: 2046-2069
• DOI: 10.1039/c4ra06739h

Bio H sub(2) conversion from wetland lignocellulosic biomass is one of the promising alternatives to fossil fuels. Both Phragmites(sp.) and Thalia dealbataare holocellulose-rich and lignin-rich wetland plant biomasses. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) demonstrated alteration of lignocellulosic structures due to hemicelluloses removal by steam explosion (SE) pretreatment, and further disruption of cellulose crystallinity after treatment with SE followed by [Bmim]Cl (SE-[Bmim]Cl). Thermogravimetry/differential thermogravimetry (TG/DTG) revealed an increase in amorphous cellulose and partial delignification in lignocellulosic structures as a consequence of SE-[Bmim]Cl. The pretreatment of both SE and SE-[Bmim]Cl yielded lignocellulosic substrates with improved properties in terms of their conversion into glucose and bio H sub(2). Five-to-ten folds (by SE) and ten-to-twenty folds (by SE-[Bmim]Cl) more glucose was released from the lignocellulosic substrates of both plants than those of contrast samples. Compared to Phragmites(sp.), the greater destruction in lignocellulosic structure of Thalia dealbataas a result of SE and SE-[Bmim]Cl, increased the accessible surface area and disrupted the cellulose crystallinity much more, thus making it more efficient for bio H sub(2) conversion. The bio H sub(2) of 1.97 plus or minus 0.14 mmol H sub(2) g super(-1) dry weight (DW) was yielded after sludge anaerobic fermentation of Thalia dealbatatreated with SE, and it increased to 4.79 plus or minus 0.86 mmol H sub(2) g super(-1) DW after SE-[Bmim]Cl treatment. For Phragmites(sp.) it was 1.45 plus or minus 0.42 and 2.75 plus or minus 0.76 mmol H sub(2) g super(-1) DW after SE and SE-[Bmim]Cl pretreatment, respectively. Therefore, SE-[Bmim]Cl pretreatment can be developed for efficiently enhancing bio H sub(2) conversion from wetland plant Thalia dealbata.