High Temperature Dilute Sulphuric Acid Pretreatment of Hazelnut Shells for Improving the Enzyme Digestibility

Abstract

Abstract

Hemicellulose and lignin are inhibitors for cellulose degradation and they should be removed before enzymatic hydrolysis. Dilute sulphuric acid pretreatment of lignocellulosic materials is an effective pretreatment method on the solubility of hemicellulose. In the present study, effect of temperature and pretreatment time on the chemical compositions and enzymatic saccharification of dilute acid pretreated hazelnut shells was investigated. Dilute sulphuric acid pretreatment had positive effect on the enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency of the hazelnut shells. Amount of produced reduced sugar was increased by raising temperature from 120^oC to 160⁰C. Increasing temperature from 160^oC to 200⁰C, solubilisation of cellulose increased, and reduced sugar amount decreased. The optimum pretreatment temperature among the parameter studied was 160⁰C. Moreover, pretreatment time at this temperature had led to increase the amount of produced fermentable sugars.