Saccharification of corn cobs an agro-industrial waste by sulphuric acid for the production of monomeric sugars

Dilute sulfuric acid pretreatment of corn cobs was investigated under acid concentrations of 5,10 and 15% (w/w) and residence time of 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes. The hydrolysis of corn cobs were carried out at different temperatures ranging from 90 to 130 oC. The pretreatment effectively solubilized the hemicellulose components to monomeric sugars i.e. glucose. Cellulose in the corn cobs was not hydrolyzed into glucose during the acid pretreatment, while part of the cellulose was converted into glucose by the acid pretreatment. After the complete hydrolysis the maximum glucose recovery obtained was 49.51% at 90 oC temperature using 10% sulphuric acid accomplishing in 1 hour.