Effect of particle size and mixing on the laccase-mediated pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass for enhanced saccharification of cellulose

Abstract

In the process of conversion of biomass into biofuels, pretreatment is severely required to maximize the utility of carbohydrates present in the biomass. In this investigation, experiments were conducted to enhance the efficiency of degradation of lignin present in Bambusa bamboos by utilizing laccase secreted from Pleurotus ostreatus. The effects of various parameters such as particle size and mixing have been studied in batch mode. Pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass was performed by using 45–105 µm particle sizes of B. bamboo for 28 days of incubation. The mixing conditions were varied from no mixing (0 rpm) to high mixing (200 rpm). A highest delignification of 64.6% was obtained at higher mixing (200 rpm) conditions for 45 μm particle sizes of B. bamboo. Thus, higher mixing conditions and lower particle sizes were found to be better for achieving higher rates of delignification of B. bamboo. Since, reduction in particle size reduces the viscosity of the suspension; higher solid loadings can be handled in the bioconversion of biomass.

Keywords:

• Bambusa bamboo
• biofuels
• laccase
• lignin
• mixing
• particle size