Production of sugars from wood waste materials via enzymatic hydrolysis

Abstract

Wood waste residues (WWRs) are abundant feedstocks for producing energy and fuels. However, using these materials is in part hindered by the lack of uniformity in properties and presence of contaminants. This work aimed at determining the potential of WWRs for sugars production via enzymatic hydrolysis. Pretreatment of four WWR samples was conducted using a mild bisulfite process at 165 C and 75 min (SPORL process) and particles that passed through a 25 mm mesh screen and were retained by a 12.5 mm mesh screen. The yield from the pretreatment was up to 79 %. Carbohydrates in pretreated materials ranged from 66 to 76 mass%. Results of the enzymatic hydrolysis indicated that the sugar yields (varying from 49 to 60 %) depend on the material. Sugar yields varied from 56 to 66 %. These findings suggest that, although the total yields are relatively lower than those of clean and uniform samples reported in literature, WWRs offer potential for sugars production.