Optimization by response surface methodology of processing conditions for the ionic liquid pretreatment of energy cane bagasse

摘要

Ionic liquids are generally considered to be green solvents, and can be potential substitutes for traditional flammable and volatile solvents due to such suitable properties as low volatility, high thermal stability, non-flammability, and good recyclability. This study aimed to optimize 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([EMIM][OAc]) pretreatment processing conditions by evaluating the effect of three pretreatment processing parameters (temperature, residence time and solids loading) on the enzymatic hydrolysis of [EMIM][OAc]-treated energy cane bagasse via response surface methodology (RSM). RESULTS: The model fitted by RSM indicated that a higher glucose yield of [EMIM][OAc]-treated biomass could be obtained at higher pretreatment temperatures with shorter residence times within the design space. The optimal processing conditions were pretreatment of energy cane bagasse at 131.9?C for 28.1 min at 8.4% solids loading, resulting in a final glucose yield of 35.96 g glucose per 100 g of native biomass compared with the predicted value of 35.89. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that this model can predict accurately the glucose yield within the specified design space. The model can also provide valuable insight to further industry application.