Evaluación de Tres Métodos de Pretratamiento Químico sobre la Deslignificación de Tallos de Yuca

Abstract

The aim of this study was the evaluation of the effect of three types of pretreatment (acid, alkaline and organosolv) on the removal of lignin from the biomass of cassava stems. The concentration of solids was 10% (w/v). In the acid treatment acid concentration between 0.79 and 2.21% w/v and time between 8 and 22 minutes, at 121 °C and 15 psi were evaluated. In the alkali treatment NaOH concentration between 0.59 and 3.41% w/v and time between 4 and 11 h, at 60 °C were evaluated; while in the organosolv treatment, ethanol concentration between 41.7 to 98.3% v/v and time between 4 and 11 h at 60 °C were evaluated. Multiple regression analysis was performed taking the reaction time and concentration of the delignifying agent as continuous numerical variables, in order to assess the effect of the method used on the removal of lignin lignocellulosic matrix. Variables with significant influence on the removal of lignin were acid concentration, time and alkali concentration, and time in the organosolv process. The alkaline pretreatment had the highest percentages of lignin removal while the organosolv pretreatment showed lower levels.