Sunday, May 3, 2009
3-35
Compositional changes in sugarcane bagasse on low temperature, long-term ammonia treatment
Misook Kim, Giovanna A. DeQueiroz, and Donal F. Day. Audubon Sugar Institute, LSU Agricultural Center, 3845 Hwy 75, St. Gabriel, LA 70776
An investigation into a simple atmospheric pressure pretreatment process using dilute ammonia solution, over a 40 day period enhanced the enzymatic cellulosic digestibility by ten folds. Sugarcane bagasse was stored in 0, 0.03, or 0.3% ammonium hydroxide for 40 days, at 30ºC under atmospheric pressure in a closed vessel. Samples were withdrawn at 10 day intervals, and the changes in amounts of structural carbohydrate and lignin in the solids and organic acids and total phenolic compounds in the liquid stream were determined. Total microbial counts were also monitored. This process removed up to 40% of the lignin, with little loss of retained glucose or xylose.