The Study of the Dilute Acid Pretreatment Technology of Corn Stover and Rice Straw

Ethanol production from lignocellulosic materials provides an alternative energy production system. Dilute sulfuric acid pretreatment of corn straw and rice straw and enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose were investigated in this study. The straw was pretreated at 121°C with different sulfuric acid concentrations (1, 2, 3, 4and 5%, v/v) and residence times (30, 60, and 90 min). The concentration and conversion of total reducing sugars were analyzed. Pretreatment residence time play a key role in increase glucose concentration comparing to sulfuric acid concentration. Cellulose remaining in the pretreated feedstock was highly digestible by cellulases from Trichoderma viride. The result that the saccharification yield of 72.38% and 82.84% from corn straw and rice straw by using 2% (v/v) acid pretreatment at 121°C for 60 min and saccharifying with cellulase preparations.