Alternative technology for intensification of fermentable sugars released from enzymatic hydrolysis of sugarcane bagasse

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the effect of supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) on the enzymatic hydrolysis of sugarcane bagasse to produce fermentable sugars. A central composite design (CCD) was used to investigate the influence of temperature (40 to 60 °C), pressure (100 to 300 bar), and reaction time (60 to 180 min) on enzymatic hydrolysis using 2% (w v−1) sugarcane bagasse and a commercial cellulase. After supercritical treatment, samples were kept at 50 °C for 24 h to complete the hydrolysis reaction. SC-CO2 treatment at 200 bar and 50 °C for 120 min increased the release of fermentable sugars by 32.49% compared with the control (without SC-CO2). The condition (50 °C, 200 bar, 120 min) that provided the highest concentration of reducing sugars (2.340 g L−1) resulted in a hydrolysis yield of 32.4%. SC-CO2 treatment is a sustainable strategy to enhance the enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass and to intensify the release of fermentable sugars.