Abstract:
Solid acid catalysts are potent alternatives to enzymes or mineral acids currently used in the hydrolysis of
lignocellulosic biomass to generate sugars for further applications in biofuel or chemicals manufacturing.
They are considered green, environmentally safe, and are reusable. In the present work, Amberlyst 15
was evaluated as a solid acid catalyst for the hydrolysis of alkali pretreated biomass. A response surface
methodology was used to optimize the hydrolysis of pretreated rice straw. Optimized conditions of 7.0%
biomass and catalyst loading resulted in a sugar yield of 255 mg/g of pretreated biomass in 4.0 h. The
catalytic hydrolysate generated lesser amount of fermentation inhibitors compared to similar treatment
by mineral acids. Recovery and reusability of the catalyst was also studied. The catalytic hydrolysate
could be used for fermentative production of bioethanol. Results indicate the possibility to use solid acid
catalysts as an alternative strategy for biomass hydrolysis.
