(569dh) Hydrolysis of Lignocellulosic Biomass Using Graphene Oxide Catalyst to Produce Reducing Sugar

Graphene oxide (GO) has demonstrated its efficacy as a catalyst in the hydrolysis of sugar for bioethanol production. However, the use of direct sugar from grain or cereals is a threat to food security. Therefore, searching for an alternative feedstock from non-food sources is crucial for the sustainability of the biorefineries. For this reason, the use of agro-waste (corncob) can serve as a promising alternative feedstock in the production of bioethanol. In this study, GO synthesized by the modification of Hummer's Method and sulfonated coconut shell biochar catalyst were used in the hydrolysis of corncob for sugar production. These catalysts were characterized using FTIR and Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption measurements, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Sugar production by hydrolysis of corncob using the GO catalyst was compared with sulfonated biochar catalysts. The optimal hydrolysis reaction conditions (biomass and catalyst concentrations and reaction time) were determined using a statistical design of experiments. The result showed that the GO catalyst gave the highest glucose yield of about 2.8 g/L over the sulfonated biochar. In general, both catalysts were influential in the hydrolysis of the corncob with their specific characteristics, without employing the conventional pretreatment methods for the raw corncob.