Ionic liquid 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium Chloride/FeCl_3 pretreatment of sugarcane residue for second generation bioethanol production

摘要

This study aims to establish a natural cellulosic biomass pretreatment process using ionic liquid (IL) for efficient enzymatic hydrolysis and second generation bioethanol. The IL 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium Chloride/FeCl_3 ([Bmim]Cl/FeCl_3) was selected in view of its low temperature pretreatment ability and the potential of accelerating enzymatic hydrolysis, and it could be recyclable. The yield of reducing sugars from sugarcane residue pretreated with this IL at 80°C for 1 h reached 46.8% after being enzymatically hydrolyzed for 24 h. Sugarcane residue regenerated were hydrolyzed more easily than that treated with water. The fermentability of the hydrolyzates, obtained after enzymatic saccharification of the regenerated sugarcane residue, was transformed into bioethanol using Candida shehatae. This microbe could absorb glucose and xylose efficiently, and the ethanol production was 0.38 g/g glucose within 30 h fermentation. In conclusion, the metal ionic liquid pretreatment in low temperature shows promise as pretreatment solvent for natural biomass.