Steam explosion pre-treatment of alkali-impregnated lignocelluloses for hemicelluloses extraction and improved digestibility.

The application of steam explosion pre-treatment to extract xylan-rich biopolymers from alkali-impregnated lignocelluloses, while simultaneously increasing the enzymatic digestibility of cellulose, was investigated. Steam-enhanced extraction of xylan from sugarcane trash (SCT) and aspen wood (AW) was performed at varying temperatures (176-204 °C) and retention times (3-17 min) after the impregnation of biomass samples with sodium hydroxide at 1:20 (w/w) solid loading ratio. Xylan extraction and cellulose digestibility results were statistically analysed to fix the condition/s for significantly enhanced values.

Single-step microwave-assisted hot water extraction of hemicelluloses from selected lignocellulosic materials - A biorefinery approach.

The viability of single-step microwave-induced pressurized hot water conditions for co-production of xylan-based biopolymers and bioethanol from aspenwood sawdust and sugarcane trash was investigated. Extraction of hemicelluloses was conducted using microwave-assisted pressurized hot water system. The effects of temperature and time on extraction yield and enzymatic digestibility of resulting solids were determined.