Optimization of Pretreatment of Wheatstraw for Bioethanol Production

Production of biofuel from lignocellulosic feedstock has attracted significant interests worldwide. Lignocellulosic biomass including various agricultural residues is an abundant and renewable resource on earth. Although cellulose is the most abundant organic molecule, its susceptibility to hydrolysis is restricted due to presence of rigid lignin and hemicellulosic protection surrounding the cellulose micro fibrils. Therefore, an effective pretreatment is necessary to liberate the cellulose from the ligninhemicellulose seal and also to reduce cellulosic crystallinity. Besides reducing lignocellulosic recalcitrance, an ideal pretreatment must also minimize formation of degradation products that inhibit subsequent hydrolysis and fermentation. The aims of this study was to optimize the best acidic pretreatment conditions of wheat straw using sulfuric acid as a catalyst and by using taguchi experiments by statistical experimental design software in order to maximize xylose and enzyme digestibility yields and to minimize the formation of inhibitors.