Effect of mixed solvent on extremely low acid hydrolysis of lignocellulose

Hydrolysis of cotton straw by ethanol-water mixed solvent was conducted in a batch reactor under the extremely low acid. The effect of the volume ratio of ethanol to water on the hydrolysis of cotton straw was investigated and the hydrolyzate was analyzed. The results indicated that the rate of biomass conversion and the concentration of reducing sugar were increased to the maximum values with the increasing of ethanol volume ratio at first and thereafter they decreased with the further increasing of ethanol ratio. The conversion of the cotton straw and the concentration of reducing sugar could reach 47.8% and 8.6g/L respectively when the volume fraction of ethanol was 10%. The adding of ethanol could not only promote the dissolution of lignocellulose but also reduce the decomposition of reducing sugar during the hydrolysis process, and weaken the inhibition of organic acids on the subsequent fermentation.