Distinct polymer extraction and cellulose DP reduction for complete cellulose hydrolysis under mild chemical pretreatments in sugarcane.

In this study, liquid hot water (LHW) and chemical (HSO, NaOH, CaO) pretreatments were performed in Saccharum species including sugarcane bagasse. In comparison, the LHW and CaO pretreatments significantly enhanced biomass enzymatic hydrolysis, leading to much high bioethanol yield obtained at 19% (% dry matter) with an almost complete hexoses-ethanol conversion in the desirable So5 bagasse sample. Despite the LHW and CaO are distinctive for extracting hemicellulose and lignin, both pretreatments largely reduced cellulose degree of polymerization for enhanced lignocellulose enzymatic saccharification.