Evaluation of alkaline pretreatment temperature on a multi-product basis for the co-production of glucose and hemicellulose based films from lignocellulosic biomass

Cotton stalks were subjected to alkaline pretreatment for the co-production of glucose and hemicellulose based films with a multi-product approach. Three pretreatment temperatures (25, 60 and 90 degrees C) were evaluated for their effects both on the glucose yield and on the properties of hemicellulose based films. Compared to untreated cotton stalks, the glucose yields were enhanced 3.9, 4.1 and 4.2 times for pretreatments conducted at 25, 60 and 90 degrees C, respectively. The pretreatment temperature of 90 degrees C was detrimental in terms of film formation. Tensile energy to break values of the films obtained after pretreatments conducted at 25, 60 and 90 degrees C were 1.1, 0.8, and 0.4 MJ/m(3), respectively. The hemicellulosic part of the process, which considers the production of hemicellulose based films, should govern the pretreatment temperature since it was more responsive to the changes in the pretreatment temperature compared to the cellulosic part that accounts for glucose production. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.