Title
Chemical processes (acidic and alkaline) in saccharification of sorghum biomass for biofuel production
Authors
JOLANTABATOG DOMINIKA PIEPRZYK-KOKOCHA ALEKSANDRA WAWRO and ZBIGNIEW SKIBNIEWSKI

Published Volume 50 Issue 3-4 March-April
Keywords lignocellulosic biomass, chemical treatment, biofuels

Abstract
Biofuel production from lignocellulosic materials requires degradation of cell walls to specific polymers and hydrolysis of carbohydrates to monomer sugars. Cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin constitute three main lignocellulose components and they are bonded together forming a complex matrix, highly recalcitrant to chemical and biological conversion. One of the main factors behind the difficulties in biomass saccharification is the lignin, which intertwines with hemicellulose and covers the microfibrils of crystalline cellulose. All this forces to subject the material to pretreatments (physical, chemical and biological), which affects significantly the course of further stages in biofuel production. The present study evaluated the effect of sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide on the amount of released reducing sugars (Miller’s method). The chemical composition was determined for the solid fraction formed after the treatments, while for the liquid phase (after acidic treatment only) toxins and pentoses were determined. Also, FTIR spectra analysis was performed for sorghum biomass before and after the chemical treatment.