Sugars Production for Green Chemistry from 2^nd Generation Crop (Arundo donax L.): A Full Field Approach.

Abstract

Arundo donax L. (giant cane) is a suitable feedstock for sugar production because of its high biomass yield and low agronomic input requirement. Eight A. donax clones were studied at full field scale for sugars production. 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium acetate ‐ [C2C1im][OAc] ‐ and enzymatic treatments were used to obtain the sugars. Highest glucose yields were obtained for pretreatment performed at 160 °C for 3 hours, with glucan conversion yields from 40.8 % to 76.2 % for most productive A. donax clones (AD10 and AD 20). Differences in cell wall structure measured by micropore surface area (pores of 0.3 ‐ 1.5 nm) explained both ionic liquids and enzymatic performances of clones. Structural differences were due to the guaiacyl (G) and syringyl (S) units that determined different lignin cross‐linking affecting cell wall microporosity and so enzyme accessibility. Total glucose and xylose yields (11 Mg Ha−1 and 4.84 Mg Ha−1, clone AD20), were impressive and about 3.5 to 4.5 times more than those obtainable from switchgrass and corn stover.

Methods for suspension culture, protoplast extraction, and transformation of high‐biomass yielding perennial grass Arundo donax

“…In recent years there has been significant interest in harvesting renewable fuels and value‐added chemicals from plant feedstocks, especially from perennial grasses such as Arundo donax L. . Some reasons why perennial grasses are desirable as next‐generation bioenergy feedstock are: (i) their low soil management requirements and growth on marginal land; (ii) their ability to prevent soil erosion and increase soil organic carbon; (iii) few natural pests; and (iv) the capacity to reliably produce biomass .…”

Bioconversion of Giant Cane for Integrated Production of Biohydrogen, Carboxylic Acids, and Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) in a Multistage Biorefinery Approach

“…Lignin content reduced to 19.4 ± 3.1% TS (Table S1). The efficiency of the pretreatment was highlighted by both the high percentage of lignin removal after IL pretreatment, i.e., 45.6 ± 1.8% lignin and cellulose conversion to simple glucose after enzymatic hydrolysis, i.e., 71.2 ± 11.5% cellulose present in the A. donax.…”

“…Enzymatic hydrolysis was carried out as previously reported; in brief, the enzymatic hydrolysis was performed at 50 °C and at 300 rpm in an incubator. Biomass was diluted to a glucan loading of 2% (w/w) in a total batch volume of 2 mL with a 50 mmol L –1 sodium citrate solution at pH 4.8.…”

“…Many studies have highlighted the possibilities of using giant cane biomass for the production of bioenergy, biocombustibles, chemicals, and other products. Biogas − and bioethanol production, and energy from combustion processes, have been previously investigated for this crop. In addition, the production of chemical compounds with an economic value, such as xylo-oligosaccharides, levulinic acid, γ-valerolactone, , p -hydroxyphenyl-propane, and several alkaloids, have all been reported for A.…”

“…donax, coupled with the high crop yield, represent a significant potential source of glucose, xylose, arabinose, and lignin . Overcoming the natural recalcitrance of biomass by chemical pretreatment, the production of 11 Mg Ha –1 of glucose plus 4.84 Mg Ha –1 of xylose was reported . This large amount of sugar can then be used for different purposes, such as the production of organic molecules.…”