Kinetic Study of Dilute Nitric Acid Treatment of Corn Stover at Relatively High Temperature

Corn stover was hydrolyzed using dilute nitric acid at 150 degrees C. Several concentrations of HNO3 (0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 wt-%) and reaction times (0-60 min) were evaluated. The kinetic parameters of mathematical models for predicting the concentrations of xylose, glucose, arabinose, acetic acid, and furfural in the hydrolysates were determined. The hydrolysates obtained from corn stover can be used to produce methane by an anaerobic fermentation process. Thus, the hydrolysis process of corn stover using dilute nitric acid can be conceived as the first stage of an integrated strategy for corn stover utilization.