3-30: Reduction of fermentation lag phase due to inhibitors using a novel activated biochar material

Lignocellulosic feedstocks can be prepared for ethanol fermentation by treatment with a dilute mineral acid catalyst that hydrolyzes the hemicellulose and possibly cellulose into soluble carbohydrates.  The acid catalyzed reaction scheme is sequential whereby released monosaccharides are further degraded to furans and other chemicals that are inhibitory to the subsequent fermentation step.  This work evaluates the use of agricultural residues (flax shive) as starting materials for making activated biochars to adsorb these degradation products.  Results show that both furfural and hydroxymethylfurfural are adsorbed by steam-activated biochar prepared from flax shive.  Decontamination of the hydrolyzates significantly improved the fermentation behavior by Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast, including significantly reducing lag phase.  No negative effects were noted from addition of activated char to the process.