Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Surfactant-Assisted Acid Pretreatment of Sugarcane Tops for Bioethanol Production

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

Abstract

Sugarcane tops is one of the largest biomass resources in India and in tropical countries such as Brazil in terms of surplus availability. Conversion of this feedstock to ethanol requires pretreatment to make it more accessible for the enzymes used in saccharification. Though several pretreatment regimens have been developed for addressing biomass recalcitrance, very few seem to be promising as an industrial process. A novel hybrid method involving use of mild acid and surfactant was developed which could effectively remove lignin and improve the sugar yield from sugar cane tops. Operational parameters that affect the pretreatment efficiency (measured as yield of sugars) were studied and optimized. Changes in structural properties of the biomass were studied in relation to the pretreatment process using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis, and the changes in chemical composition was also monitored. The biomass pretreated with the optimized novel method could yield 0.798 g of reducing sugars per gram of pretreated biomass upon enzymatic hydrolysis.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Sindhu, R., Kuttiraja, M., Binod, P., Janu, K. U., Sukumaran, R. K., & Pandey, A. (2011). Bioresource Technology, 102, 10915–10921.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Binod, P., Kuttiraja, M., Archana, M., Janu, K. U., Sindhu, R., Sukumaran, R. K., & Pandey, A. (2012). Fuel, 92, 340–345.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Sindhu, R., Binod, P., Satyanagalakshmi, K., Janu, K. U., Sajna, K. V., Kurien, N., Sukumaran, R. K., & Pandey, A. (2010). Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 162, 2313–2323.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Sindhu, R., Binod, P., Janu, K.U., Sukumaran, R.K. & Pandey, A. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology , DOI 10.1007/s11274-011-0838-8.

  5. Tan, H. T., Lee, K. T., & Mohamed, A. R. (2011). Carbohydrate Polymers, 83, 1862–1868.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Rodrigues, T. H. S., Rocha, M. V. P., Macedo, G. R., & Goncalves, L. R. B. (2011). Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 164, 929–943.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Qing, Q., Yang, B., & Wyman, C. E. (2010). Bioresource Technology, 101, 5941–5951.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Qi, B., Chen, X., & Wana, Y. (2010). Bioresource Technology, 101, 4875–4883.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Sukumaran, R. K., Surender, V. J., Sindhu, R., Binod, P., Janu, K. U., Sajna, K. V., Rajasree, K. P., & Pandey, A. (2010). Bioresource Technology, 101, 4826–4833.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Salvi, D. A., Aita, G. M., Robert, D., & Bazan, V. (2010). Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology, 37, 27–34.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Kunenmani, A., & Singh, S. (2005). Biochemical Engineering Journal, 27, 179–190.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Tengborg, C., Galbe, M., & Zacchi, G. (2001). Biotechnology Progress, 17, 110–117.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Lu, X. B., Zhang, Y. M., Yang, J., & Liang, Y. (2007). Chemical Engineering and Technology, 30, 938–944.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Sluiter, A., Hames, B., Ruiz, R., Scralata, C., Sluiter, J., Templeton, D. & Crocker, D. (2011) Determination of structural carbohydrates and lignin in biomass, Laboratory Analytical Procedure (LAP), National Renewable Energy Laboratory, NREL/TP-510-42618, http://www.nrel.gov/biomass/pdfs/42618.pdf .

  15. Kim, S., & Holtzapple, M. T. (2006). Bioresource Technology, 97, 583–591.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Miller, G. M. (1959). Analytical Chemistry, 31, 426–428.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Box, G. E. P., & Behnken, D. W. (1960). Technometrics, 2, 455–475.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Samuel, R., Pu, Y., Foston, M., & Rgauskas, A. J. (2010). Biofuels, 1, 85–90.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Kim, T. H., Kim, J. S., Sunwoo, C., & Lee, Y. Y. (2003). Bioresource Technology, 90, 39–47.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Sannigrahi, P., Miller, S. J., & Ragauskas, A. J. (2010). Carbohydrate Research, 345, 965–970.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. He, Y. F., Pang, Y. Z., Liu, Y. P., Li, X. J., & Wang, K. S. (2008). Energy & Fuels, 22, 2775–2781.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Ko, J. K., Bak, J. S., Jung, M. W., Lee, H. J., Choi, I. G., Kim, T. H., & Kim, K. H. (2009). Bioresource Technology, 100, 4374–4380.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Adel, A. M., Abdelwahab, Z. H., Ibrahim, A. A., & Al-Shemy, M. T. (2010). Bioresource Technology, 101, 4446–4455.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Parker, F. S. (1971). Applications of infrared spectroscopy in biochemistry, biology and medicine. New York: Plenum.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  25. Helle, S. S., Duff, S. J. B., & Cooper, D. G. (1993). Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 42, 611–617.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Kim, M. H., Lee, S. B., Ryu, D. D. Y., & Reese, E. T. (1982). Enzyme and Microbial Technology, 4, 99–103.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Binod, P., Janu, K. U., Sindhu, R., & Pandey, A. (2011). Hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass for bioethanol production. In A. Pandey, C. Larroche, & S. C. Ricke (Eds.), Biofuels: alternative feedstocks and conversion processes (pp. 229–250). New York: Elsevier.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Satyanagalakshmi, K., Sindhu, R., Binod, P., Janu, K. U., Sukumaran, R. K., & Pandey, A. (2011). Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research, 70, 156–161.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Kim, E., Irwin, D. C., Walker, L. P., & Wilson, D. B. (1998). Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 58, 494–501.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Wingren, A., Galbe, M., & Zacchi, G. (2003). Biotechnology Progress, 19, 1109–1117.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Arantes, V., & Saddler, J. N. (2011). Biotechnology for Biofuels, 4, 3.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Escalantae, M., Rodriguez, A. J., Araujo, E., Gonzalez, A. M., Rojas, O. J., Penaloza, N., Bullon, J., Lara, M. A., Dmitrieva, N., & Perez-Perez, E. (2005). Journal of Environmental Biology, 26, 709–718.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Kurakake, M., Ooshima, H., Kato, J., & Harano, Y. (1994). Bioresource Technology, 49, 247–251.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Schell, D. J., Framer, J., Newman, M., & McMillan, J. D. (2003). Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 105, 69–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Zhu, Y., Lee, Y. Y., & Elander, R. T. (2005). Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 121, 1045–1054.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC), Department of Science and Technology, Government of India and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi for financial support to Centre for Biofuels. The authors would like to acknowledge Dr. Sangeeta Srivastava, The Godavari Biorefineries Ltd., Mumbai, for providing sugarcane tops.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Biofuels, National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR), Trivandrum, 695 019, India

    Raveendran Sindhu, Mathiyazhakan Kuttiraja, Parameswaran Binod, Varghese Elizabeth Preeti, Soolankandath Variem Sandhya, Sankar Vani, Rajeev Kumar Sukumaran & Ashok Pandey

Authors
  1. Raveendran Sindhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mathiyazhakan Kuttiraja
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Parameswaran Binod
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Varghese Elizabeth Preeti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Soolankandath Variem Sandhya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Sankar Vani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Rajeev Kumar Sukumaran
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Ashok Pandey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rajeev Kumar Sukumaran.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sindhu, R., Kuttiraja, M., Binod, P. et al. Surfactant-Assisted Acid Pretreatment of Sugarcane Tops for Bioethanol Production. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 167, 1513–1526 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-012-9557-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-012-9557-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation