Novel cellulose pretreatment solvent: phosphonium-based amino acid ionic liquid/cosolvent for enhanced enzymatic hydrolysis

The potential of halogen-free and imidazolium-free phosphonium-based amino acid ionic liquids (AAILs) has been investigated as new solvents for cellulose pretreatment for the subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose. AAILs alone did not dissolve cellulose (Avicel), even at 120 degrees C. However, when polar solvents such as dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) were added as cosolvents, AAILs became an acceptable solvent for cellulose at 30 degrees C. The solubility of cellulose in tetrabutylphosphonium glycine ([TBP][Gly])/cosolvent reached 15%. The enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose was dramatically enhanced by pretreatment with AAIL/cosolvent, and the glucose yield reached 100% when the novel AAIL tetrabutylphosphonium N, N-dimethylglycine ([TBP][DMGly]) was used in combination with DMSO as cosolvent. The enzymatic conversion of cellulose to glucose in 6% and 13% [TBP] [DMGly]/DMSO buffer solutions reached 98% and 79%, respectively. The decrease in cellulase activity owing to residual [TBP][DMGly]/DMSO was not significant. Hence, it is possible to conduct the dissolution and enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose in a one-batch process in a phosphonium-based AAIL/cosolvent system.