Steam explosion of oilseed rape straw: establishing key determinants of saccharification efficiency

Ian P. Wood, Adam Elliston, Sam R. A. Collins, David Wilson, Ian Bancroft, Keith W. Waldron

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Oilseed rape straw was steam exploded into hot water at a range of severities. The residues were fractionated into solid and liquid phases and chemically characterised. The effect of steam explosion on enzymatic hydrolysis of the water-insoluble fractions was investigated by studying initial cellulase binding and hydrolysis yields for different cellulase doses. Time-course data was modelled to establish rate-dependent differences in saccharification as a function of pretreatment severity and associated chemical composition. The study concluded: (1) the initial hydrolysis rate was limited by the amount of (pectic) uronic acid remaining in the substrate; (2) the proportion of rapidly hydrolysable carbohydrate was most closely and positively related to lignin abundance and (3) the final sugar yield most closely related to xylan removal from the substrate. Comparisons between milled and un-milled steam exploded straw highlighted the influence that physical structure has on hydrolysis rates and yields, particularly at low severities.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)175-183
Number of pages9
JournalBIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
Volume162
Early online date31 Mar 2014
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2014

Bibliographical note

Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Keywords

  • Brassica napus
  • Cellulase binding
  • Pretreatment
  • Rapeseed straw
  • Enzymatic

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