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EFFICIENT PRETREATMENT OF CORN STRAW AND SORGHUM WITH LTTM FOR ENHANCED BIO-CONVERSION

Year 2025, Volume: 13 Issue: 2, 397 - 407, 01.06.2025
https://doi.org/10.36306/konjes.1544933

Abstract

This study explores using a low transition temperature mixture (LTTM), containing sulfamic acid and ethylene glycol for the pretreatment of corn straw and sorghum biomass, aimed to improve the efficiency of converting biomass into platform chemicals. We first optimized the pretreatment conditions (solid-liquid ratio, temperature, and time) and assessed the conversion of pretreated biomass into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) and levulinic acid (LA) using the catalyst Amberlyst-15. Optimal pretreatment conditions were found to be a solid-liquid ratio of 1:5 (w/w), a temperature of 40 °C, and a duration of 4 hours, which resulted in the highest yields of sugars; xylose, glucose, and sucrose. In the catalytic conversion of sorghum and corn straw pretreated with LTTM at 200 °C in the presence of Amberlyst-15, 801.2 ppm glucose and 1967.3 ppm levulinic acid were obtained from sorghum, while 663.9 ppm glucose and 1936.3 ppm levulinic acid were produced from corn straw. The study demonstrates that LTTMs offer effective and sustainable biomass pretreatment, improving the accessibility of lignocellulosic structure to catalysts, leading to higher yields of desired products like glucose and levulinic acid.

References

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  • P. A. Lazaridis, S. Karakoulia, A. Delimitis, S. M. Coman, V. I. Parvulescu, and K. S. Triantafyllidis, “d-Glucose hydrogenation/hydrogenolysis reactions on noble metal (Ru, Pt)/activated carbon supported catalysts,” Catalysis Today, vol. 257, no. 2, Nov., pp. 281–290, 2015.
  • W. Deng, R. Lobo, W. Setthapun, S. T. Christensen, J. W. Elam, and C. L. Marshall, “Oxidative hydrolysis of cellobiose to glucose,” Catalysis Letters, vol. 141, no. 4, Apr., pp. 498–506, 2011.
  • J. N. Chheda and J. A. Dumesic, “An overview of dehydration, aldol-condensation and hydrogenation processes for production of liquid alkanes from biomass-derived carbohydrates,” Catalysis Today, vol. 123, no. 1–4, May, pp. 59–70, 2007.
  • R. Rinaldi and F. Schüth, “Design of solid catalysts for the conversion of biomass,” Energy and Environmental Science, vol. 2, no. 6, Jun., pp. 610–626, 2009.
  • Z. Yinghuai, K. T. Yuanting, and N. S. Hosmane, “Applications of ionic liquids in lignin chemistry,” in Ionic Liquids: New Aspects for the Future, J. Kadokawa Ed. London: InTech, 2013, pp-315-346.
  • V. B. Agbor, N. Cicek, R. Sparling, A. Berlin, and D. B. Levin, “Biomass pretreatment: Fundamentals toward application,” Biotechnology Advances, vol. 29, no. 6, Nov., pp. 675–685, 2011.
  • M. N. F. Norrrahim, R. A. Ilyas, N. M. Nurazzi, M. S. A. Rani, M. S. N. Atikah, and S. S. Shazleen, “Chemical pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass for the production of bioproducts: An overview,” Applied Science and Engineering Progress, vol. 14, no. 4, Oct., pp. 588–605, 2021.
  • Y. Dai, J. Van Spronsen, G. J. Witkamp, R. Verpoorte, and Y. H. Choi, “Ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents in natural products research: Mixtures of solids as extraction solvents,” Journal of Natural Products, vol. 76, no. 11, Nov., pp. 2162–2173, 2013.
  • S. Xia, G. A. Baker, H. Li, S. Ravula, and H. Zhao, “Aqueous ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents for cellulosic biomass pretreatment and saccharification,” RSC Advances, vol. 4, no. 21, Feb., pp. 10586–10596, 2014.
  • A. Satlewal, R. Agrawal, S. Bhagia, J. Sangoro, and A. J. Ragauskas, “Natural deep eutectic solvents for lignocellulosic biomass pretreatment: Recent developments, challenges and novel opportunities,” Biotechnology Advances, vol. 36, no. 8, Dec., pp. 2032-2050, 2018.
  • M. Francisco, A. Van Den Bruinhorst, and M. C. Kroon, “New natural and renewable low transition temperature mixtures (LTTMs): screening as solvents for lignocellulosic biomass processing,” Green Chemistry, vol. 14, no. 8, Jun., pp. 2153–2157, 2012.
  • J. L. Wong, S. N. B. A. Khadaroo, J. L. Y. Cheng, J. J. Chew, D. S. Khaerudini, and J. Sunarso, “Green solvent for lignocellulosic biomass pretreatment: An overview of the performance of low transition temperature mixtures for enhanced bio-conversion,” Next Materials, vol. 1, no. 2, Jun., p. 100012, 2023.
  • C. L. Yiin, A. T. Quitain, S. Yusup, M. Sasaki, Y. Uemura, and T. Kida, “Characterization of natural low transition temperature mixtures (LTTMs): Green solvents for biomass delignification,” Bioresource Technology, vol. 199, Jan., pp. 258–264, 2016.
  • S. Phromphithak, T. Katongtung, P. Pholchan, and N. Tippayawong, “Microwave-heated pretreatment of corncob, Giant Juncao grass, and hemp using choline derivatives with glycerol,” BioEnergy Research, vol. 18, no. 1, Dec., pp. 1–12, 2025.
  • H. Y. Lim, N. A. Rashidi, K. W. Cheah, and A. S. A. Manaf, “One step microwave synthesis of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural from bamboo in presence of low transition temperature mixture,” Chemcal Engneering Transactions, vol. 106, Dec., pp. 127–132, 2023.
  • B. Nis, B. Kaya Ozsel, and Y. Kaya, “A DES or LTTM: Eco-friendly solvent mediums for conversion of biomass to levulinic acid as a key chemical,” Journal of Molecular Liquids, vol. 409, Sep., p. 125462, 2024.
  • T. Foyle, L. Jennings, and P. Mulcahy, “Compositional analysis of lignocellulosic materials: Evaluation of methods used for sugar analysis of waste paper and straw,” Bioresource Technology, vol. 98, no. 16, Nov., pp. 3026–3036, 2007.
  • R. C. Sun and J. Tomkinson, “Characterization of hemicelluloses obtained by classical and ultrasonically assisted extractions from wheat straw,” Carbohydrate Polymers, vol. 50, no. 3, Nov., pp. 263-271, 2002.
  • Standard Test Method for Determination of Acid-Insoluble Residue in Biomass, E1721 − 01(2015), ASTM, 2015.
  • D. Haldar and M. K. Purkait, “Thermochemical pretreatment enhanced bioconversion of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum): insight on the production of sugars and lignin,” Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, vol. 12, no. 4, Apr., pp. 1125–1138, 2022.
  • A. H. Ab Rahim, Z. Man, A. Sarwono, W. S. Wan Hamzah, N. M. Yunus, and C. D. Wilfred, “Extraction and comparative analysis of lignin extract from alkali and ionic liquid pretreatment,” Journal of Physics Conference Series, vol. 1123, no. 1, Nov., p. 012052, 2018.
  • H. Xu et al., “Key process parameters for deep eutectic solvents pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass materials: A review,” Bioresource Technology, vol. 310, Aug., p. 123416, 2020.
  • P. A. Son, S. Nishimura, and K. Ebitani, “Synthesis of levulinic acid from fructose using Amberlyst-15 as a solid acid catalyst,” Reaction Kinetics, Mechanism and Catalysis, vol. 106, no. 1, Mar., pp. 185–192, 2012.
  • S. Xu et al., “Efficient conversion of glucose into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural using a bifunctional Fe3+ modified Amberlyst-15 catalyst,” Sustainable Energy Fuels, vol. 3, no. 2, Jan., pp. 390–395, 2019.
Year 2025, Volume: 13 Issue: 2, 397 - 407, 01.06.2025
https://doi.org/10.36306/konjes.1544933

Abstract

References

  • A. Barhoum et al., “Plant celluloses, hemicelluloses, lignins, and volatile oils for the synthesis of nanoparticles and nanostructured materials,” Nanoscale, vol. 12, no. 45, Nov., pp. 22845–22890, 2020.
  • P. A. Lazaridis, S. Karakoulia, A. Delimitis, S. M. Coman, V. I. Parvulescu, and K. S. Triantafyllidis, “d-Glucose hydrogenation/hydrogenolysis reactions on noble metal (Ru, Pt)/activated carbon supported catalysts,” Catalysis Today, vol. 257, no. 2, Nov., pp. 281–290, 2015.
  • W. Deng, R. Lobo, W. Setthapun, S. T. Christensen, J. W. Elam, and C. L. Marshall, “Oxidative hydrolysis of cellobiose to glucose,” Catalysis Letters, vol. 141, no. 4, Apr., pp. 498–506, 2011.
  • J. N. Chheda and J. A. Dumesic, “An overview of dehydration, aldol-condensation and hydrogenation processes for production of liquid alkanes from biomass-derived carbohydrates,” Catalysis Today, vol. 123, no. 1–4, May, pp. 59–70, 2007.
  • R. Rinaldi and F. Schüth, “Design of solid catalysts for the conversion of biomass,” Energy and Environmental Science, vol. 2, no. 6, Jun., pp. 610–626, 2009.
  • Z. Yinghuai, K. T. Yuanting, and N. S. Hosmane, “Applications of ionic liquids in lignin chemistry,” in Ionic Liquids: New Aspects for the Future, J. Kadokawa Ed. London: InTech, 2013, pp-315-346.
  • V. B. Agbor, N. Cicek, R. Sparling, A. Berlin, and D. B. Levin, “Biomass pretreatment: Fundamentals toward application,” Biotechnology Advances, vol. 29, no. 6, Nov., pp. 675–685, 2011.
  • M. N. F. Norrrahim, R. A. Ilyas, N. M. Nurazzi, M. S. A. Rani, M. S. N. Atikah, and S. S. Shazleen, “Chemical pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass for the production of bioproducts: An overview,” Applied Science and Engineering Progress, vol. 14, no. 4, Oct., pp. 588–605, 2021.
  • Y. Dai, J. Van Spronsen, G. J. Witkamp, R. Verpoorte, and Y. H. Choi, “Ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents in natural products research: Mixtures of solids as extraction solvents,” Journal of Natural Products, vol. 76, no. 11, Nov., pp. 2162–2173, 2013.
  • S. Xia, G. A. Baker, H. Li, S. Ravula, and H. Zhao, “Aqueous ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents for cellulosic biomass pretreatment and saccharification,” RSC Advances, vol. 4, no. 21, Feb., pp. 10586–10596, 2014.
  • A. Satlewal, R. Agrawal, S. Bhagia, J. Sangoro, and A. J. Ragauskas, “Natural deep eutectic solvents for lignocellulosic biomass pretreatment: Recent developments, challenges and novel opportunities,” Biotechnology Advances, vol. 36, no. 8, Dec., pp. 2032-2050, 2018.
  • M. Francisco, A. Van Den Bruinhorst, and M. C. Kroon, “New natural and renewable low transition temperature mixtures (LTTMs): screening as solvents for lignocellulosic biomass processing,” Green Chemistry, vol. 14, no. 8, Jun., pp. 2153–2157, 2012.
  • J. L. Wong, S. N. B. A. Khadaroo, J. L. Y. Cheng, J. J. Chew, D. S. Khaerudini, and J. Sunarso, “Green solvent for lignocellulosic biomass pretreatment: An overview of the performance of low transition temperature mixtures for enhanced bio-conversion,” Next Materials, vol. 1, no. 2, Jun., p. 100012, 2023.
  • C. L. Yiin, A. T. Quitain, S. Yusup, M. Sasaki, Y. Uemura, and T. Kida, “Characterization of natural low transition temperature mixtures (LTTMs): Green solvents for biomass delignification,” Bioresource Technology, vol. 199, Jan., pp. 258–264, 2016.
  • S. Phromphithak, T. Katongtung, P. Pholchan, and N. Tippayawong, “Microwave-heated pretreatment of corncob, Giant Juncao grass, and hemp using choline derivatives with glycerol,” BioEnergy Research, vol. 18, no. 1, Dec., pp. 1–12, 2025.
  • H. Y. Lim, N. A. Rashidi, K. W. Cheah, and A. S. A. Manaf, “One step microwave synthesis of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural from bamboo in presence of low transition temperature mixture,” Chemcal Engneering Transactions, vol. 106, Dec., pp. 127–132, 2023.
  • B. Nis, B. Kaya Ozsel, and Y. Kaya, “A DES or LTTM: Eco-friendly solvent mediums for conversion of biomass to levulinic acid as a key chemical,” Journal of Molecular Liquids, vol. 409, Sep., p. 125462, 2024.
  • T. Foyle, L. Jennings, and P. Mulcahy, “Compositional analysis of lignocellulosic materials: Evaluation of methods used for sugar analysis of waste paper and straw,” Bioresource Technology, vol. 98, no. 16, Nov., pp. 3026–3036, 2007.
  • R. C. Sun and J. Tomkinson, “Characterization of hemicelluloses obtained by classical and ultrasonically assisted extractions from wheat straw,” Carbohydrate Polymers, vol. 50, no. 3, Nov., pp. 263-271, 2002.
  • Standard Test Method for Determination of Acid-Insoluble Residue in Biomass, E1721 − 01(2015), ASTM, 2015.
  • D. Haldar and M. K. Purkait, “Thermochemical pretreatment enhanced bioconversion of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum): insight on the production of sugars and lignin,” Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, vol. 12, no. 4, Apr., pp. 1125–1138, 2022.
  • A. H. Ab Rahim, Z. Man, A. Sarwono, W. S. Wan Hamzah, N. M. Yunus, and C. D. Wilfred, “Extraction and comparative analysis of lignin extract from alkali and ionic liquid pretreatment,” Journal of Physics Conference Series, vol. 1123, no. 1, Nov., p. 012052, 2018.
  • H. Xu et al., “Key process parameters for deep eutectic solvents pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass materials: A review,” Bioresource Technology, vol. 310, Aug., p. 123416, 2020.
  • P. A. Son, S. Nishimura, and K. Ebitani, “Synthesis of levulinic acid from fructose using Amberlyst-15 as a solid acid catalyst,” Reaction Kinetics, Mechanism and Catalysis, vol. 106, no. 1, Mar., pp. 185–192, 2012.
  • S. Xu et al., “Efficient conversion of glucose into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural using a bifunctional Fe3+ modified Amberlyst-15 catalyst,” Sustainable Energy Fuels, vol. 3, no. 2, Jan., pp. 390–395, 2019.
There are 25 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Clean Production Technologies, Environmental and Sustainable Processes, Chemical Engineering (Other)
Journal Section Research Article
Authors

Ahmet Çataloluk 0009-0006-4489-5725

Harun Demirli 0009-0002-4414-8165

Berna Niş 0000-0002-4955-7366

Burçak Kaya Özsel 0000-0003-2190-3834

Publication Date June 1, 2025
Submission Date September 6, 2024
Acceptance Date March 3, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 13 Issue: 2

Cite

IEEE A. Çataloluk, H. Demirli, B. Niş, and B. Kaya Özsel, “EFFICIENT PRETREATMENT OF CORN STRAW AND SORGHUM WITH LTTM FOR ENHANCED BIO-CONVERSION”, KONJES, vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 397–407, 2025, doi: 10.36306/konjes.1544933.