Acid ionic liquids in combination with Q-tube glass minireactors for fast pretreatment of potatoes peel for improving bioethanol production and lignin dissolution

In this study, several Brønsted acidic-type ionic liquids were evaluated as media for the pretreatment of potatoes peel. The pretreatments were carried in a novel glass minireactor known as Q-tube^®. Based on the results, the Q-tube^® was very efficient for the pretreatment of our lignocellulosic materials in comparison with the conventional equipment (round bottom flask). Pretreatments were completed in one hour with high yield of reducing and total sugars after enzymatic hydrolysis. Some protic and Brønsted acidic ionic liquids can depolymerise partially the cellulosic material in one step and after enzymatic hydrolysis the content of reducing sugars is up to thirty times higher in comparison with the material without pretreatment. In some case, high dissolution of lignin was observed in the ionic liquids using this procedure.