Pilot-scale production of xylo-oligosaccharides and fermentable sugars from Miscanthus using steam explosion pretreatment

Rakesh Bhatia, Ana Winters, David N. Bryant, Maurice Bosch, John Clifton-Brown, David Leak, Joe Gallagher

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75 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

This study investigated pilot-scale production of xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) and fermentable sugars from Miscanthus using steam explosion (SE) pretreatment. SE conditions (200 °C; 15 bar; 10 min) led to XOS yields up to 52 % (w/w of initial xylan) in the hydrolysate. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry demonstrated that the solubilised XOS contained bound acetyl- and hydroxycinnamate residues, physicochemical properties known for high prebiotic effects and anti-oxidant activity in nutraceutical foods. Enzymatic hydrolysis of XOS-rich hydrolysate with commercial endo-xylanases resulted in xylobiose yields of 380 to 500 g/kg of initial xylan in the biomass after only 4 h, equivalent to ~74 to 90 % conversion of XOS into xylobiose. Fermentable glucose yields from enzymatic hydrolysis of solid residues were 8 to 9-fold higher than for untreated material. In view of an integrated biorefinery, we demonstrate the potential for efficient utilisation of Miscanthus for the production of renewable sources, including biochemicals and biofuels.

Original languageEnglish
Article number122285
JournalBioresource Technology
Volume296
Early online date18 Oct 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2020

Funding

This work was financed by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) ( BB/P017460/1 ). We thank Telma Teixeira Franco who provided insight and expertise that assisted the research. The authors also thank Paul Robson and the Miscanthus breeding team at IBERS Aberystwyth University for the hybrids (funded by BBSRC BB/CSP1730/1, BB/N016149/1, BB/K01711X/1, BBS/E/W/10963A01 as well as the GIANT-LINK project LK0863) and the BEACON Biorefining Centre of Excellence for supporting the work presented in this paper. Appendix A

Keywords

  • Biofuels
  • Biorefining
  • Miscanthus
  • Steam explosion
  • Xylo-oligosaccharides

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Bioengineering
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • Waste Management and Disposal

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