Multi-response and multi-criteria optimization of acid hydrolyzate detoxification of cocoa pod husks: Effect on the content of phenolic compounds and fermentable sugars.

Dilute acid hydrolysis is the most common and effective method for converting lignocellulosic substrates into fermentable sugars. However, this hydrolysis partially degrades the lignin into phenolic compounds (PC), inhibiting the fermentation medium by retaining it in the hydrolyzate. Response surface methodology is a modeling and optimization technique used to examine the effect of multiple factors on a given response.