Chemical analysis and characterization of biomass for biorefineries

The aim of this chapter is to offer different chemical analyses and character-ization options for researchers or whoever is looking for an appropriate methodology to analyze results obtained in laboratory tests, especially assuming the challenge to find the best process to achieve bio-products under biorefinery concept. In this way, the information provided will be very useful to evaluate the results and moreover, to improve the research process. That is the reason why analytical techniques to charac-terize different lignocellulosic biomass are described with detailed data about its prin-ciples and methodology, emphasizing either physical or chemical protocols that are followed normally in research laboratories. Taking into account that lignin, cellulose, and hemicelluloses are the principal compounds of these kinds of raw materials, which in general are residues, the information is emphasized with that target of analysis. Nevertheless, as it is possible to obtain a lot of bio-products from biomass, like sugars, alcohols, aromatics, biopolymers and so on, other analytical methods are includedPrimera edició

Evaluation of different methods for efficient extraction of hemicelluloses leaves and tops of sugarcane

There are around 9 million tons of sugarcane crop residue per year in Colombia that are not recovered but they have potential to make value-added products. It is necessary to know the residue components, especially those from hemicellulose, to clarify the type of process to obtain the hemicellulose monosaccharides and isolate them efficiently. In order to separate pure hemicelluloses, five processes of extraction from tops and leaves of CC 8592, CC 8475, and V 7151 sugarcane varieties were studied. After evaluating exposure to dewaxing using ethanol and chloroform-methanol mixtures, residues were subjected to different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide and acidified sodium chlorite to achieve delignification. Additionally, procedures of extraction were developed with sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and precipitation. Chloroform-methanol dewaxing and sodium chlorite with sodium borohydride delignification allowed to achieve the highest extraction yield, with hemicellulose recovery ranging from 0.20-0.34 g hemicellulose/g dry residue in the varieties studied.En Colombia se producen alrededor de 9 millones de toneladas de residuos de la cosecha de la caña de azúcar por hectárea cada año, que no han sido valorizados hacia ningún tipo de producto. Es necesario conocer su composición, en especial el contenido de hemicelulosas, para dilucidar el proceso para obtener los monosacáridos de éstas y aislarlos eficientemente. Para separar las hemicelulosas puras, se estudiaron cinco procesos de extracción a partir de las hojas y cogollos de las variedades de caña de azúcar CC 8592, CC 8475 y V 7151. Después de evaluar la eliminación de ceras con etanol y mezclas de cloroformo-metanol, los residuos se expusieron a diferentes concentraciones de peróxido de hidrógeno y clorito de sodio acidificado para lograr su deslignificación. Adicionalmente, se desarrollaron procedimientos de extracción con hidróxido de sodio e hidróxido de potasio, y de precipitación. El método que logró el mayor rendimiento fue el de desceración con metanol-cloroformo y deslignificación con clorito de sodio y borohidruro de sodio, con un rango de recuperación entre 0.20-0.34 g hemicelulosas /g residuo seco en las variedades estudiadas

Characterization of hemicelluloses from leaves and tops of the CC 8475, CC 8592, and V 7151 varieties of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L)

In this research, the types of hemicellulose that predominate in the leaves and tops of the three most cultivated varieties (CC 8475, CC 8592, V 7151) of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) in Valle del Cauca, Colombia were determined. Hemicellulose analyses were performed after delignification with sodium chlorite and extraction with 18% NaOH and 24% KOH containing 0.26 M NaBH4. The main components of hemicellulose were identified via FTIR and NMR spectroscopy, and monomeric sugars were identified via HPLC. Hemicellulose A composed of arabinoxylans, glucomannans and arabinogalactactans and hemicellulose B primarily composed of arabinoxylans were extracted. The hemicelluloses of the Colombian varieties were more stable against heat than those of the Venezuelan variety. The results of this project allowed discovery of the potential use of agricultural sugarcane residues for bioethanol production because they have a holocellulose content of more than 60

Actividades enzimáticas significativas en la hidrólisis de residuos de la cosecha de caña de azúcar

In the production of ethanol from agroindustrial crop residues, one of the critical stages in the process is the conversion of lignocellulosic material to simple sugars, which can be done chemically or enzymatically. In this research, the enzymatic activities of commercial enzymes were evaluated for their influence on the degradation of lignocellulosic materials from sugar cane harvest residues (leaves and top cane). Eight substrates were pretreated with different delignification methods. Likewise, five enzymatic preparations were configured. An analysis of the enzyme-substrate interactions was conducted through fuzzy system analysis. The results showed regions of maximum enzymatic activity for residues of the sugarcane harvest, between 20-30 Filter Paper Units (FPU) /mL values lower than 500 pNPG (p-Nitrofenol-α-D-Glucopyranoside) U / mL of activity beta-glucosidase and hemicellulase activity between 50 and 70 IU / mL, confirming that the use of large amounts of cellulolytic enzymes is not necessaryEn la producción de etanol a partir de residuos agroindustriales, una de las etapas críticas en el proceso es la conversión del material lignocelulósico a azúcares simples, que puede realizarse química o enzimáticamente. En esta investigación, se evaluó la influencia de las actividades enzimáticas de las enzimas comerciales para degradar materiales de residuos de cosecha de la caña de azúcar (hojas y cogollos). Ocho sustratos fueron pretratados con diferentes métodos de deslignificación, con cinco preparaciones enzimáticas. Se utilizó un análisis de las interacciones enzima-sustrato, a través del análisis del sistema difuso. Los resultados mostraron regiones de actividad enzimática entre 20-30 FPU / mL y valores inferiores a 500 pNPG U / mL de actividad beta-glucosidasa y para actividad hemicelulasa entre 50 y 70 IU / mL, confirmando que el uso de grandes cantidades de enzimas celulolíticas no es necesari

Hidrólisis enzimática de residuos de la cosecha de caña de azúcar

In this research, a delignified substrate from crops residues sugar cane residues (leaves and top cane) was hydrolyzed using an enzyme preparation with 27.53 FPU. This enzyme was obtained from trade. Hydrolysis was carried out to pH of 4.2 and a temperature of 50 oC. Models of inhibition models substrate, glucose and total inhibition product was analyzed. The results showed that models that best fit the data experimental was the models competitive glucose inhibition (Km= 20.37, Vmax=39 and ki= 0.442). In the event that E/S is above 0.5, can applied kinetic models of Michaelis Menten.En esta investigación, se hidrolizó un sustrato deslignificado proveniente de residuos de la cosecha caña de azúcar (hojas y cogollos) usando un preparado enzimático con 27.53 unidades de papel filtro (FPU), obtenido a partir de enzimas comerciales. La hidrólisis se llevó a cabo a un pH de 4.2 y una temperatura de 50 oC. Fueron analizados modelos de inhibición por sustrato, glucosa e inhibición total por producto. Los resultados mostraron que los modelos que mejor se ajustan a los datos experimentales, son los modelos de inhibición competitiva por glucosa, con una constante de Michaelis (Km) de 20.37 g/L, velocidad máxima (Vmax) 39 g/L h y una constante de inhibición (ki) de 0.442. En el caso que las relaciones enzima Sustrato (E/S) sean mayores de 0.5, se puede aplicar el modelo cinético de Michaelis-Menten

Envirometal assement of etanol production from cassava (Manihot esculenta, Crantz) variety M-THAI 8

La búsqueda de fuentes alternas de biocombustibles que no compitan con los alimentos por uso del suelo, es una necesidad no solo ética sino económica y social, que busca valorizar materias primas que no han sido explotadas en todo su potencial. En este sentido, la yuca amarga variedad M-THAI 8 ha mostrado, por estudios técnicos y de prefactibilidad económica, tener una alta viabilidad para la producción de etanol. Sin embargo, esta viabilidad debe verse desde el punto de vista ambiental (residuos sólidos y líquidos) para hacer los ajustes al proceso y disminuir la carga contaminante. Por tal motivo, a partir de estudios previos de optimización de la hidrólisis de almidón de yuca se siguieron dos protocolos para obtener etanol, cuya diferencia se encuentra en la fuente de nitrógeno en la etapa de fermentación (A. Inti y Quantum Yeast. B. sulfato de amonio), posterior a obtener el mosto, éste se destiló y a las vinazas resultantes se les hizo un análisis físicoquímico. Como resultado de este estudio se encontró que estas contienen altos valores de DBO5 y DQO, así como de nitratos, fosfatos y sólidos totales que exceden la legislación colombiana. Para disminuir la carga contaminante desde el punto de vista del proceso se sugiere, entre otras cosas, en la etapa de presacarificación del almidón aumentar la relación sólido-líquidoThe search for alternative sources of biofuels that do not compete for use of the land with food is a necessity not only ethical, but economic andsocial, which seeks to valorize raw materials that have not been exploited to their full potential. In this sense, the bitter cassava variety M-THAI 8 has shown by technical and economic feasibility studies for to have a high feasibility for the production of ethanol. However, this viability should be viewed from the standpoint environmental (liquid and solid waste) to make adjustments to the process and reduce the pollutant load. Therefore from previous studies of optimization of cassava starch hydrolysis was followed by two protocols to obtain ethanol whose difference is the source of nitrogen in the fermentation (A. Inti and Quantum Yeast. B. Sulfate ammonium) after obtaining the must, it was distilled and the resulting stillage it was made of the physicochemical analysis. As a result of this study was found that they contain high levels of BOD5 and COD as well as nitrates, phosphates and total solids, which exceed the Colombian legislation. To reduce the pollution load from the point of view of the process, it is suggested among other things increasing the solid-liquid phase in the pres-saccharification stag

Significant enzymatic activities in the residues hydrolysis of the sugar cane harvest

In the production of ethanol from agroindustrial crop residues, one of the critical stages in the process is the conversion of lignocellulosic material to simple sugars, which can be done chemically or enzymatically. In this research, the enzymatic activities of commercial enzymes were evaluated for their influence on the degradation of lignocellulosic materials from sugar cane harvest residues (leaves and top cane). Eight substrates were pretreated with different delignification methods. Likewise, five enzymatic preparations were configured. An analysis of the enzyme-substrate interactions was conducted through fuzzy system analysis. The results showed regions of maximum enzymatic activity for residues of the sugarcane harvest, between 20-30 Filter Paper Units (FPU) /mL values lower than 500 pNPG (p-Nitrofenol-αD-Glucopyranoside) U / mL of activity beta-glucosidase and hemicellulase activity between 50 and 70 IU / mL, confirming that the use of large amounts of cellulolytic enzymes is not necessaryEn la producción de etanol a partir de residuos agroindustriales, una de las etapas críticas en el proceso es la conversión del material lignocelulósico a azúcares simples, que puede realizarse química o enzimáticamente. En esta investigación, se evaluó la influencia de las actividades enzimáticas de las enzimas comerciales para degradar materiales de residuos de cosecha de la caña de azúcar (hojas y cogollos). Ocho sustratos fueron pretratados con diferentes métodos de deslignificación, con cinco preparaciones enzimáticas. Se utilizó un análisis de las interacciones enzima-sustrato, a través del análisis del sistema difuso. Los resultados mostraron regiones de actividad enzimática entre 20-30 FPU / mL y valores inferiores a 500 pNPG U / mL de actividad beta-glucosidasa y para actividad hemicelulasa entre 50 y 70 IU / mL, confirmando que el uso de grandes cantidades de enzimas celulolíticas no es necesari

Characterization of hemicelluloses from leaves and tops of the CC 8475, CC 8592, and V 7151 varieties of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L)

In this research, the types of hemicellulose that predominate in the leaves and tops of the three most cultivated varieties (CC 8475, CC 8592, V 7151) of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) in Valle del Cauca, Colombia were determined. Hemicellulose analyses were performed after delignification with sodium chlorite and extraction with 18% NaOH and 24% KOH containing 0.26 M NaBH4. The main components of hemicellulose were identified via FTIR and NMR spectroscopy, and monomeric sugars were identified via HPLC. Hemicellulose A composed of arabinoxylans, glucomannans and arabinogalactactans and hemicellulose B primarily composed of arabinoxylans were extracted. The hemicelluloses of the Colombian varieties were more stable against heat than those of the Venezuelan variety. The results of this project allowed discovery of the pEn esta investigación se llevó a cabo la determinación de los tipos de hemicelulosas que predominan en las hojas y cogollos de las tres variedades (CC 8475, CC 8592, V 7151) de caña de azúcar (Saccharum officinarum L.) más cultivadas en el Valle del Cauca, Colombia, previa deslignificación de las mismas con clorito de sodio y extracción con NaOH al 18% y KOH al 24% conteniendo NaBH4 0.26 M. La identificación de los principales componentes de las hemicelulosas se hizo por FTIR, RMN y los azúcares monoméricos por HPLC. Se extrajeron hemicelulosas A compuestas principalmente por arabinoxilanos, glucomananos y arabinogalactactanos, y hemicelulosas B compuestas principalmente por arabinoxilanos. Las hemicelulosas de las variedades colombianas fueron más estables al calor, que la venezolana. Los resultados de este proyecto permitieron descubrir el potencial de los residuos agrícolas de caña de azúcar para la producción de bioetanol, ya que tienen un contenido de holocelulosa superior al 60%