Supercritical extraction as an effective first-step in a maize stover biorefinery

TY - JOUR

T1 - Supercritical extraction as an effective first-step in a maize stover biorefinery

AU - Attard, Thomas M.

AU - Theeuwes, Elke

AU - Gomez, Leonardo D.

AU - Johansson, Emma

AU - Dimitriou, Ioanna

AU - Wright, Phillip C.

AU - Clark, James H.

AU - McQueen-Mason, Simon J.

AU - Hunt, Andrew J.

PY - 2015/5/7

Y1 - 2015/5/7

N2 - Supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) has been investigated for the generation of valuable waxy compounds and as an added-value technology in a holistic maize stover biorefinery. ScCO2 extraction and fractionation was carried out prior to hydrolysis and fermentation of maize stover. Fractionation of the crude extracts by scCO2 resulted in wax extracts having different compositions and melting temperatures, enabling their utilisation in different applications. One such fraction demonstrated significant potential as a renewable defoaming agent in washing machine detergent formulations. Furthermore, scCO2 extraction has been shown to have a positive effect on the downstream processing of the maize stover. Fermentation of the scCO2 extracted maize stover hydrolysates exhibited a higher glucose consumption and greater potential growth for surfactant (in comparison with non-scCO2 treated stover) axnd ethanol production (a 40% increase in overall ethanol production after scCO2 pre-treatment). This work represents an important development in the extraction of high value components from low value wastes and demonstrates the benefits of using scCO2 extraction as a first-step in biomass processing, including enhancing downstream processing of the biomass for the production of 2nd generation biofuels as part of an integrated holistic biorefinery.

AB - Supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) has been investigated for the generation of valuable waxy compounds and as an added-value technology in a holistic maize stover biorefinery. ScCO2 extraction and fractionation was carried out prior to hydrolysis and fermentation of maize stover. Fractionation of the crude extracts by scCO2 resulted in wax extracts having different compositions and melting temperatures, enabling their utilisation in different applications. One such fraction demonstrated significant potential as a renewable defoaming agent in washing machine detergent formulations. Furthermore, scCO2 extraction has been shown to have a positive effect on the downstream processing of the maize stover. Fermentation of the scCO2 extracted maize stover hydrolysates exhibited a higher glucose consumption and greater potential growth for surfactant (in comparison with non-scCO2 treated stover) axnd ethanol production (a 40% increase in overall ethanol production after scCO2 pre-treatment). This work represents an important development in the extraction of high value components from low value wastes and demonstrates the benefits of using scCO2 extraction as a first-step in biomass processing, including enhancing downstream processing of the biomass for the production of 2nd generation biofuels as part of an integrated holistic biorefinery.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84929587441&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1039/c5ra07485a

DO - 10.1039/c5ra07485a

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84929587441

SN - 2046-2069

VL - 5

SP - 43831

EP - 43838

JO - RSC Advances

JF - RSC Advances

IS - 54

ER -