Effect of non-thermal plasma on cellulose crystallinity and lignin content in corn stalks

Lignocellulosic biomass is a cheap raw material that, thanks to its high carbohydrate content, can be used in fermentation produce biofuels, biogas and other compounds. Its complex structure, including cellulose, hemicellulose lignin, requires prior treatment of the facilitate hydrolysis simple sugars. Today, only partially utilized generates about 14% world's energy. This because most commonly physical, chemical physicochemical treatments are not sustainable. They energy-consuming but still low productivity toxic inhibitors formed during these could hinder later steps fermentation. Biomass with advanced oxidation techniques has great potential as an environmentally friendly, so-called "green" treatment. These processes generate reactive species (radicals, electrons, ions peroxides) that attack hemicellulose, lignin components. In this work, effects non-thermal plasma, Fenton process, combined corn stalks plasma/Fenton were compared. Grounded was mixed reagent hydrogen peroxide at different ratios subjected plasma Carbohydrate content decreased treated samples both without Fe2+. However, specific biomass: Fe2+:H2O2 ratio required achieve highest rate lignocellulose decomposition. The cellulose fractions affected reduced by studied resulted almost no changes crystallinity index. lower allow for more efficient enzyme new options valorization fermentations.