Fast Microwave-assisted Pretreatment for Bioconversion of Sawdust Lignocellulose to Glucose

Abstract

A preliminary study of application microwave energy for bioconversion of cellulosic sawdust to glucose was performed. The effects of the microwave were compared to those of the conventional method for each solvent. It was expected that a broader mechanism responsible for the microwave effects on the chemical processes, especially the pretreatment on the hydrolysis of cellulose can be explained. Reagents used were an acid (HCl), an alkali (NaOH), and distilled water (H2O). The experimental results showed that the microwave-assisted pretreatment on the lignocellulosic sawdust faster than by using conventional heating (hotplate). Moreover by using microwave a higher glucose content compared to the conventional method was found. With microwave during hydrolisis, high temperatures and high reagent concentrations were not required. Pretreatment with a microwave at 800 Watt and solvent NaOH 22,50 mg/mL at a temperature of 120°c appeared to be most efficient found in this experiment. These results indicate that microwave effective for bioconversion of cellulosic sawdust to glucose. The microstructure evaluation by using SEM and XRD should be performed to understand more detail the effect especially on their cellulosic structural evolution.