Parametric Study on Microwave-assisted Dilute Sulfuric Acid Pretreatment for Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Sweet Sorghum Bagasse

Author : Buan, Aina Angeline Reyes
Major Adviser : Borines, Myra G.
Committee Members : Detras, Monet Concepcion M.; Gatdula, Kristel M. 
Year : 2017
Month : June
Type : Thesis
Degree: BS
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Abstract

The energy crisis experienced by different sectors nowadays has called for extensive biofuels research, mainly to develop a sustainable alternative source of fuels. One of the possible sources is lignocellulosic biomass such as sweet sorghum bagasse. In this study, sweet sorghum bagasse was subjected to microwave-assisted dilute sulfuric acid pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis using ACCELLERASE® 1500. The effects of power setting (Low and Low-Medium), reaction time (3 and 5 min) and acid concentration (4 and 10 %w/v) on the reducing and total sugar yield of sweet sorghum bagasse were tested in this study using 2ᵏ full factorial experimental design and Analysis of Variance to determine their significance. Microwave heating proved to increase the reducing and total sugar yield of dilute sulfuric acid pretreated sweet sorghum bagasse. Acid concentration, its interaction with reaction time and the interaction of the three parameters were found to have significant effects on the reducing sugar yield; while power, reaction time and its interaction with acid concentration were found to have significant effect on total sugar yield. The maximum average reducing sugar yield occurred at Low power setting (119 W), 3 min and 4 %w/v with value of 93.48 mg reducing sugar/g bagasse. The maximum average total sugar yield occurred at Low power setting (231 W), 5 min and 4 %w/v with value of 106.75 mg total sugar/g bagasse. The value of fermentable sugars obtained was higher compared to other feedstock, at lower power input, reaction time and acid concentration, making it a more possible alternative source of fuels.


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