Rice husk-based solid acid for efficient hydrolysis and saccharification of corncob

• Published in: Bioresource technology 2019-11, Vol.292, p.121915-121915, Article 121915
• Main Authors: Chen, Na, Zhang, Guangming, Zhang, Panyue, Tao, Xue, Wu, Yan, Wang, Siqi, Nabi, Mohammad
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Corncob; Hemicelluloses; Hydrolysis; Reducing sugar; Rice husk-based solid acid catalyst; Saccharification
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.121915

[Display omitted] •RH-SO3H was prepared by one-step carbonization and sulfonation method.•The optimum preparation temperature of RH-SO3H was 160 °C.•RH-SO3H was used for the hydrolysis and saccharification of corncob.•The maximum reducing sugar yield was 486.53 mg/g from corncob treated by RH-SO3H.•RH-SO3H was better than the other two carbon-based solid acids. This work studied preparation of rice husk-based solid acid and its application for efficient hydrolysis and saccharification of corncob. Rice husk-based solid acid (RH-SO3H) was prepared by one-step carbonization and sulfonation method. Analysis demonstrated that RH-SO3H exhibited aromatic carbon sheets structure bearing –SO3H, –COOH and –OH groups. The RH-SO3H was then used to hydrolyse and saccharify corncob. Compared with solid acids made from activated carbon and microcrystalline cellulose, the RH-SO3H showed the highest catalytic efficiency with the maximum reducing sugar yield of 486.53 mg/g and xylose of 253.03 mg/g, which was twice and five times higher than that of control, respectively. Its high efficiency was attributed to –OH and –COOH groups functioned synergistically with –SO3H to hydrolyse lignocellulose by adsorbing β-1,4-glucan in corncob. This study provides a green and effective utilization technology of lignocellulosic biomass.