Enhancing enzymatic hydrolysis of corn stover by twin-screw extrusion pretreatment

Efficient and cost-effective hydrolysis of cellulose and hemicellulose into monosaccharide is the crucial and challengeable step for corn stover utilization. In this study, twin-screw extrusion pretreatment changed the particle size distribution and spatial structure of corn stover samples, but had basically no effects on their chemical structure. Cellulose content of CS-DW and CS-DW-GNa increased, but hemicellulose content and crystalline index decreased with extrusion pretreatment. Glucose yield of CS-DW increased from 25 g/L of CS with 48 h hydrolysis time to 34 g/L by 36 h of hydrolysis time, and glucose yield of CS-DW-GNa increased to 45 g/L with 24 h hydrolysis time. Meanwhile, xylose yield of CS-DW and CS-DW-GNa increased from 19 g/L of CS (48 h) to 27 g/L (36 h) and 40 g/L (24 h), respectively. These results provide good guidance for improving the conversation of lignocelluloses to monosaccharide for further utilization.