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Aqueous Ammonia Soaking of Switchgrass Followed by Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation

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Abstract

Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) of switchgrass was performed following aqueous ammonia pretreatment. Switchgrass was soaked in aqueous ammonium hydroxide (30%) with different liquid–solid ratios (5 and 10 ml/g) for either 5 or 10 days. The pretreatment was carried out at atmospheric conditions without agitation. A 40–50% delignification (Klason lignin basis) was achieved, whereas cellulose content remained unchanged and hemicellulose content decreased by approximately 50%. The Sacccharomyces cerevisiae (D5A)-mediated SSF of ammonia-treated switchgrass was investigated at two glucan loadings (3 and 6%) and three enzyme loadings (26, 38.5, and 77 FPU/g cellulose), using Spezyme CP. The percentage of maximum theoretical ethanol yield achieved was 72. Liquid–solid ratio and steeping time affected lignin removal slightly, but did not cause a significant change in overall ethanol conversion yields at sufficiently high enzyme loadings. These results suggest that ammonia steeping may be an effective method of pretreatment for lignocellulosic feedstocks.

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Acknowledgment

This project was funded by the National Science Foundation grant number CMS0424700, the University of Iowa Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research, and the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, and the Center for Crops Utilization Research. The authors would like to thank Dr. Larry Johnson, Dr. Robert Burns, Dr. Kenneth Moore, Dr. Lee Lynd, Dr. Sammy Sadaka, Carol Ziel, and members of the Raman–Anex Lab Group for their help and support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA

    Asli Isci, Jennifer N. Himmelsbach, D. Raj Raman & Robert P. Anex

  2. Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Center for Crops Utilization Research, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA

    Anthony L. Pometto III

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  1. Asli Isci
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  2. Jennifer N. Himmelsbach
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Correspondence to Asli Isci.

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Isci, A., Himmelsbach, J.N., Pometto, A.L. et al. Aqueous Ammonia Soaking of Switchgrass Followed by Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 144, 69–77 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-007-8008-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-007-8008-z

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