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Pretreatment of Dried Distiller Grains with Solubles by Soaking in Aqueous Ammonia and Subsequent Enzymatic/Dilute Acid Hydrolysis to Produce Fermentable Sugars

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Abstract

Dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS), a co-product of corn ethanol production in the dry-grind process, was pretreated by soaking in aqueous ammonia (SAA) using a 15 % w/w NH4OH solution at a solid/liquid ratio of 1:10. The effect of pretreatment on subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis was studied at two temperatures (40 and 60 °C) and four reaction times (6, 12, 24, and 48 h). Highest glucose yield of 91 % theoretical was obtained for the DDGS pretreated at 60 °C and 24 h. The solubilized hemicellulose in the liquid fraction was further hydrolyzed with dilute H2SO4 to generate fermentable monomeric sugars. The conditions of acid hydrolysis included 1 and 4 wt% acid, 60 and 120 °C, and 0.5 and 1 h. Highest yields of xylose and arabinose were obtained at 4 wt% acid, 120 °C, and 1 h. The fermentability of the hydrolysate obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis of the SAA-pretreated DDGS was demonstrated in ethanol fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The fermentability of the hydrolysate obtained by consecutive enzymatic and dilute acid hydrolysis was demonstrated using a succinic acid-producing microorganism, strain Escherichia coli AFP184. Under the fermentation conditions, complete utilization of glucose and arabinose was observed, whereas only 47 % of xylose was used. The succinic acid yield was 0.60 g/g total sugar consumed.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their sincere thanks to Mr. Gerard Senske of the ERRC, who assisted in the experimental efforts and sample analysis, DuPont Industrial Biosciences for providing the enzyme products, Lincolnway Energy, LLC for providing the DDGS, and Mr. Kwang Ho Kim at the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University for assisting in obtaining the DDGS. Tae Hyun Kim was supported by the R&D program of MOTIE/KETEP (No. 20153010091990).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sustainable Biofuels and Co-products Research Unit, Eastern Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Wyndmoor, PA, 19038, USA

    Nhuan P. Nghiem & Justin Montanti

  2. Department of Environmental Engineering, Kongju National University, Cheonandae-Ro, 1223-24, Cheonan, Chungnam, 31080, South Korea

    Tae Hyun Kim

Authors
  1. Nhuan P. Nghiem
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  2. Justin Montanti
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Correspondence to Nhuan P. Nghiem.

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Mention of trade names or commercial products in this article is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA is an equal employment provider and employer.

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Nghiem, N.P., Montanti, J. & Kim, T.H. Pretreatment of Dried Distiller Grains with Solubles by Soaking in Aqueous Ammonia and Subsequent Enzymatic/Dilute Acid Hydrolysis to Produce Fermentable Sugars. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 179, 237–250 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-016-1990-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-016-1990-2

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