SO2-catalyzed steam pretreatment and fermentation of enzymatically hydrolyzed sugarcane bagasse

Sugarcane bagasse is a lignocellulosic residue obtained from sugarcane milling, and a potentially interesting raw material that can be used for fuel ethanol production. In the present study, bagasse was steam pretreated at temperatures between 180 and 205 degrees C, with holding times of 5-10 min using SO2 as a catalyst to determine conditions that provide a good recovery of pentoses and a suitable material for enzymatic hydrolysis. Pretreatment conducted at 190 degrees C for 5 min gave a pentose yield of 57%, with only minor amounts of degradation compounds formed. Commercial cellulolytic enzymes were used to hydrolyze the obtained fiber fractions after pretreatment at different water-insoluble solid contents (2%, 5% and 8% WIS). The overall highest sugar yield achieved from bagasse was 87% at 2% WIS. Fermentation tests were made on both the pentose-rich hemicellulose hydrolysate obtained from the pretreatment, and the enzymatic hydrolysates obtained from the fiber fractions using the xylose-fermenting strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae TMB3400, as well as the natural xylose-utilizing yeast Pichia stipitis CBS 6054. The pretreatment hydrolysates produced at 2% WIS as well as the enzymatic hydrolysates showed a complete glucose fermentability indicating a low toxicity to the yeasts. The best xylose conversion (more than 60%) was achieved by the strain TMB3400 at 2% WIS. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.