Production of fermentable sugars by dilute acid hydrolysis of sugar cane bagasse

Abstract

Sugarcane bagasse is one of the most abundant agroindustrial wastes in Venezuela and is a possible alternative to satisfy the energy demand, being also of low environmental impact. In this research, the production of fermentable sugars by dilute acid hydrolysis of sugarcane bagasse was evaluated, using sulfuric acid (H2SO4) at different concentrations and reaction times. Maximum concentrations of reducing sugars (RS) of 11.54 g/L and total sugars (TS) of 11.81 g/L were reached at 4 h of reaction and 2% sulfuric acid; however, at 3 h and 1.5%, concentrations of 10.53 g/L for RS and 11.26 g/L for TS were obtained, for which the
re were no significant differences between these two treatments. The test of means showed that the variables time, concentration and the interaction time-concentration have significant differences (p<0.0001), with this the behavior of the sugars at different acid concentrations and reaction times was studied, and the kinetic equation of conversion of reducing sugars as a function of time was determined. It is concluded that the kinetic equations of the reactions for reducing sugars as a function of reaction time were pseudo first order, finding a better fit as the concentration of sulfuric acid increases.