One-pot fractionation of corn stover with peracetic acid and maleic acid

Lignocellulose fractionation is a primary treatment to enhance cellulose accessibility and multi-component use. Herein, the development of a one-step fractionation is reported for cellulose enrichment from corn stover using a low concentration of peracetic acid combined with maleic acid (PAM). The effects of pretreatment parameters on the contents of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin were investigated. After cooking for 1 h at 130 degrees C with 1.5 wt % peracetic acid and 3 wt% maleic acid, 86.83% of corn stover cellulose remained in the solid residue while 88.21% of hemicellulose and 87.77% of lignin dissolved into the aqueous liquid. Hemicellulose was primarily hydrolyzed into xylose with 84.58% recovered during the PAM process. The cellulose-rich residue was enzymatically hydrolyzed with a glucose yield of 89.65%, which was two to three times that of untreated substrate. Generally, the proposed process offers a promising approach for efficient fractionation of lignocellulose under mild and environmental-friendly conditions.

Automated summary

The study introduces a one-step lignocellulose fractionation method using peracetic acid and maleic acid, which efficiently extracts cellulose from corn stover and achieves a high glucose yield after enzymatic hydrolysis.