(587t) Biomass Pretreatment With Ionic Liquids

Three ionic liquids (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate (EMIM-AC), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium diethyl phosphate (EMIM-DEPO4) and 1,3-dimethylimidazolium methyl sulfate (DMIM-MeSO4)) were used to investigate the influences of the factors on the process of biomass pretreatment.  In addition, biomass has a variety of structure and different proportions of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin.  Thus, two types of biomass, cassava pulp residue and rice straw, were used as a potential precursor in this study for the bioconversion process.  Cassava pulp residue is a solid residue produced from the process of starch production.  Almost all of cassava pulp residue is utilized as a low-price carbohydrate source for livestock food.  Thus, the high contents of polysaccharides, including starch with cellulose and hemi-cellulose, ¹ make this a low cost raw material more attractive for producing a variety of valuable products through the application of the bioconversion process.  Rice straw is a major agricultural by-product derived from harvesting rice.  It is one of the most abundant lignocellulosic waste materials in the world (about 731 million tons are produced per year) ^2-3.  A significant amount of the rice straw produced every year remains unused/discarded or burned in open field, resulting in air pollution or fire hazards.

1.            T. Srinorakutara, L. Kaewvimol and L. Saengow, J. Sci. Res. Chula. Univ., 2006, 31, 77-84.

2.            D. K. Subramanian, ed., Biochemical conversion of rice straw into bioethanol - an exploratory investigation., 2011.

3.            D. K. Subramanian, 2011. [Online]. Available: http://www.compete-bioafrica.net/events/events2/seminar_india/ppt/4-5-Subramanium.pdf.