Lignocellulosic biomass fractionation: I - solvent extraction in a novel reactor

Capium (elephant grass) chips were treated at 180°C for 1 to 3 h, solid concentrations 3 to 14%, with 50% aquous ethanol in a recently-developed reactor. About 70% delignification and 90% hemicellulose removal in solid form, and 95% glucose yield in 16h by enzymatic hydrolysis, were obtained under optimum reaction conditions. The effectiveness of lignocellulosic biomass fractionation is due largely to the reactor design which facilitates efficient separation of components and overcomes lignin condensation problems.