Dilute acid hydrolysis of sunflower residue (cellulosic wastes) prior to enzymatic hydrolysis

Batch mode experiments were conducted to determine the optimum conditions for the highest removal of hemicellulose of sunflower stalks (SFS) and sunflower heads (SFH) through dilute acid (H2SO4) hydrolysis. The effects of sulfuric acid concentration, solid concentration, and hydrolysis time on hemicellulose removal at 100 degrees C were investigated and the optimum conditions were determined to be 15 % solid, 2.5 % acid in 30 minutes, and 10 % solid, 1 % acid in 10 minutes, for SFS and SFH respectively.