Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Enzymatic Saccharification and Viscosity of Sawdust Slurries Following Ultrasonic Particle Size Reduction

  • Published:
Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Results in a previous study showed up to a 55% increase in saccharification rates when the initial particle size range decreased from 590 < x < 850 μm down to 33 < x < 75 μm. The smaller particle sizes also lowered the viscosity of the slurry 50-fold (for an equivalent initial solids concentration). In this study, ultrasonic irradiation was employed to further reduce the particle size of sawdust slurries below the ranges in the previous study in an attempt to further increase enzymatic saccharification rates and lower the slurry viscosity. Average particle sizes were reduced to less than 1 μm under the conditions tested. Surprisingly, the amount and rates of sugar released in this study with the ~1 μm particles is comparable (maximum glucose release of 30%) to, but no better than that seen for particle sizes in the range of 33 ≤ x ≤ 75 μm (maximum glucose release of 31%). Also surprisingly, the viscosity increased as the average particle sizes in the slurries decreased, which is opposite to the trend in the previous study. For example, there was an approximately threefold increase in the viscosity between unsonicated samples with a range of 10 ≤ x ≤ 75 μm and sonicated samples with a range of 0.05 ≤ x ≤ 12 μm. This is attributed to the variations in surface characteristics of the particles which were characterized here using X-ray diffraction profiles and SEM pictures.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Dasari, R. K., & Berson, R. E. (2007). Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 136–140, 289–299. doi:10.1007/s12010-007-9059-x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Price, G. (1990). Advances in Sonochemistry. In: Mason, T. J., (ed.) London: JAI, (vol. 1, pp. 231–287).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Petrie, A., Jeunet, A., Luche, J., & Reverdy, G. (1992). Journal of the American Chemical Society, 114, 3148.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Watson, N. E., Prior, B. A., Lategan, P. M., & Lussi, M. (1984). Enzyme and Microbial Technology, 6, 451–456.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Shoh, A. (1988). Industrial applications of ultrasound. In K. S. Suslick (Ed.), Ultrasound: Its Chemical, Physical, and Biological Effects. New York: VCH. chapter 3.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Ausubel, F. M., Brent, R., Kingston, R. E., More, D. D., Seidman, J. G., Smith, J. A., & Struhl, K. (1996). Current Protocols in Molecular Biology. New York: Green Publishing and Wiley Interscience.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Wang, D., Sakakibara, M., Kaoyuki, N., & Suzuki, K. (1996). Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology (Oxford, Oxfordshire), 65, 86–92. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1097-4660(199601)65:1<86::AID-JCTB394>3.0.CO;2-L.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Sun, X., Sun, R., Sun, X. F., & Su, Y. (2004). Carbohydrate Research, 339, 291–300. doi:10.1016/j.carres.2003.10.027.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Li, C., Yoshimoto, M., Ogata, H., Tsukuda, N., Fukunaga, K., & Nakao, K. (2005). Ultrasonics Sonochemistry, 12, 373–384. doi:10.1016/j.ultsonch.2004.02.004.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Rolz, C. (1986). Biotechnology Letters, 8, 131–136. doi:10.1007/BF01048471.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Pietsch, W. (2007). Chemical Engineering Progress. An AIChE Publicattions, 115, 18–21.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Millett, M. A., Baker, A. J., & Scatter, L. D. (1976). Biotechnology and Bioengineering Symposium, 6, 125–153.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Fan, L. T., Lee, Y., & Gharpuray, M. M. (1982). Advances in Biochem. Engineer, 23, 157–187.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Converse, A. O., Ooshima, H., & Burns, D. S. (1990). Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 24/25, 67–73. doi:10.1007/BF02920234.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Wolcott, M. P., Kamke, F. A., & Dillard, D. A. (1990). Wood and Fiber Science, 22, 345–361.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Gumuskaya, E., & Usta, M. (2002). Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, 26, 247–252.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Nara, S., & Komiya, T. (1983). Starch-Starke, 35, 407. doi:10.1002/star.19830351202.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Pimenova, N. V., & Hanley, T. R. (2003). Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 114, 347–360. doi:10.1385/ABAB:114:1-3:347.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Majumder, S. K., Chandna, K., Sankar De, S., & Kundu, G. (2006). International Journal of Mineral Processing, 79, 217–224. doi:10.1016/j.minpro.2006.02.004.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Nguyen, Q. A., Tucker, M., Keller, F., & Eddy, F. (1992). Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 84-86, 561–576. doi:10.1385/ABAB:84-86:1-9:561.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Kentucky Governor’s Office of Energy Policy (PO2-855-07000074491) for their financial support; Genencor International, Inc. for supplying the enzyme used in this study; Garrard wood products of Lancaster, KY for supplying sawdust; and the Institute of Advanced Materials and Renewable Energy (IAM-RE) at the University of Louisville, KY for their help with obtaining the X-ray profiles.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40292, USA

    Samin Rezania, Zhuoliang Ye & R. Eric Berson

Authors
  1. Samin Rezania
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zhuoliang Ye
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. R. Eric Berson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. Eric Berson.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rezania, S., Ye, Z. & Berson, R.E. Enzymatic Saccharification and Viscosity of Sawdust Slurries Following Ultrasonic Particle Size Reduction. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 153, 103–115 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-008-8467-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-008-8467-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation