Time domain NMR spectroscopy as a fast method for probing the efficiency of biomass pretreatments for second generation ethanol production

Author(s)

Bianquini, Tatiane S. ^[1] ; Florencio, Camila ^[2] ; dos Santos Garcia, Rodrigo Henrique ^[3] ; Colnago, Luiz Alberto ^[2] ; Ceccato-Antonini, Sandra R. ^[4] ; Carmo, Marcelo ^[5] ; Teles, Joao ^[1] ; Farinas, Cristiane S. ^{[6, 2]} ; Ribeiro, Tatiana S. ^{[5, 1]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Dept Nat Sci Math & Educ, Rodovia Anhanguera, Km 174 SP-330, BR-13600970 Araras, SP - Brazil

^[2] Embrapa Instrumentacao, Rua 15 Novembro 1452, BR-13560970 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Sao Carlos Inst Chem, Av Trabalhador Sao Carlene 400, Caixa Postal 780, BR-780 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[4] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Dept Agroind Technol & Rural Socioecon, Rodovia Anhanguera, Km 174, BR-13600970 Araras, SP - Brazil

^[5] Forschungszentrum Julich, Inst Energy & Climate Res IEK 14, Electrochem Proc Engn, D-52425 Julich - Germany

^[6] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Grad Program Chem Engn, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: BIOMASS & BIOENERGY; v. 142, NOV 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Herein we describe a simple and fast spectroscopy method based on the Time Domain Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (TD-NMR) method (or low field NMR) to determine the efficiency of lignocellulosic biomass pretreatments for increasing saccharification by enzymes, a key step in second generation (2G) ethanol production. Three different pretreatments (liquid hot water (LHW), steam explosion (SE) and steam-exploded and delignified (SED) process) were used as characteristic processes to reduce biomass recalcitrance, being the untreated and treated biomass (sugarcane bagasse) fully characterized before and after the treatments - using electron microscopy, structural techniques and the direct evaluation of commercial enzyme activity. The analyses in TD-NMR indicate that the binding mode of water (1. Shorter T-2-water molecules of low mobility, which are adsorbed into the cell wall and around the lumens; 2. Intermediate T-2-looser water molecules and within small cellulose pores; 3. Longer T-2-water inside larger cellulose pores and excess water outside the cellulose pores) as evinced by the technique are directly related to the ability of each process for increasing the enzymatic action in the saccharification of pretreated biomass. Given its low cost and fast acquisition time, the proposed method based in TD-NMR could be especially useful as a predictive technique for control routines in large-scale industrial production of 2G ethanol. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/14306-0 - Application of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance in lignocellulosic sugarcane bagasse materials, in pre-treatments and hydrolysis for 2nd generation ethanol production
• Grantee: Tatiane Bianquini de Godoy
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• FAPESP's process: 16/10636-8 - From the cell factory to the Biodiesel-Bioethanol integrated biorefinery: a systems approach applied to complex problems in micro and macroscales
• Grantee: Roberto de Campos Giordano
• Support Opportunities: Program for Research on Bioenergy (BIOEN) - Thematic Grants