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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Genetics and Breeding Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #163810
Title: ENZYME-PRETREATMENT OF GRASS LIGNOCELLULOSE FOR POTENTIAL HIGH-VALUE CO-PRODUCTS AND AN IMPROVED FERMENTABLE SUBSTRATE

Author
item Anderson, William - Bill
item PETERSON, JOY - UNIV OF GA
item Akin, Danny
item Morrison Iii, Wiley

Submitted to: Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals Symposium Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/5/2004
Publication Date: 5/9/2004
Citation: Anderson, W.F., Peterson, J., Akin, D.E., Morrison Iii, W.H. 2004. Enzyme-pretreatment of grass lignocellulose for potential high-value co-products and an improved fermentable substrate. Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals Symposium Proceedings, Chattanooga, TN, May 9-12, 2004. (Abst).

Interpretive Summary: not required

Technical Abstract: Lignocelluloses of grasses are potential sources of biofuel to expand the bioethanol industry currently based on corn grain. While crop biomass yield is high for grasses, aromatics in the lignocelluloses impede hydrolysis of cell wall polysaccharides and reduce substrates suitable for fermentation. These aromatics are diverse, existing as recalcitrant lignins (phenylpropanoids) of various types and also as the phenolic acids, i.e., ferulic and p-coumaric, that are ester-linked to carbohydrates. Research has been conducted to locate and identify the various types of aromatics within grass lignocellulose and to rank their role in recalcitrance to biodegradation. Enzyme pretreatment strategies may provide environmentally friendly methods for release of phenolic acids from lignocellulose for a potentially high-value co-product while improving ferment ability of the residue. Preliminary research using a commercial ferulic acid esterase, before saccharification with cellulase, showed a substantial increase in supernatant ferulic and p-coumaric acids, arabinose, xylose, and cellulose over cellulase treatment alone. The most appropriate cultivars of grasses were identified for pretreatment with esterases and initial results on the fermentation of enzyme-pretreated grass lignocellulose-indicated potential improvements in fermentation over non-esterase treated grasses.