Hemicellulosic Bioethanol Production from Fast-Growing Paulownia Biomass

In order to exploit a fast-growing Paulownia hardwood as an energy crop, xylose-enriched hydrolysate was obtained in this work increase the ethanol concentration using hemicellulosic fraction, besides already widely studied cellulosic fraction. For that, elongata x fortunei submitted autohydrolysis treatment (210 °C or S0 of 4.08) for xylan solubilization, mainly xylooligosaccharides. Afterwards, sequential stages acid hydrolysis, concentration, and detoxification were evaluated obtain fermentable sugars. Thus, detoxified non-detoxified hydrolysates (diluted not) fermented production natural xylose-consuming yeast, Scheffersomyces stipitis CECT 1922, industrial Saccharomyces cerevisiae MEC1133 strain, metabolic engineered strain with xylose reductase/xylitol dehydrogenase pathway. Results from fermentation assays showed that S. produced up 14.2 g/L (corresponding 0.33 g/g yield) hydrolysate. Nevertheless, yeast reached similar values ethanol, but only Hence, data prove suitability robustness ferment liquor, appropriateness liquor use less robust yeast. addition, success hemicellulose-to-ethanol shows biomass suitable renewable source following fractionation process within biorefinery approach.