Understanding the impact of ionic liquid pretreatment on biomass and enzymatic hydrolysis

The chemical and physical changes of lignocellulosic biomass after subjecting to various pretreatment conditions were investigated in this current work. Subsequently, the effects of biomass changes on digestibility of cellulose to fermentable sugar (glucose) by enzyme were studied. Oil palm frond (OPF), the chosen biomass in this study was pretreated using ionic liquid (IL) 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([BMIM]Cl) at different pretreatment conditions before subjected to analysis and subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis process. The pretreatment variables studied in this work are temperature, retention time and solid loading. Results showed that OPF experienced changes in lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose content after pretreatment due to dissolution as well as depolymerization process occurring during pretreatment. In addition to that, the recalcitrance of lignocellulosic biomass was effectively disrupted by ionic liquid pretreatment at various pretreatment conditions as cellulose digestibility of OPF was largely enhanced after pretreatment.

► Using ionic liquid as pre-treatment for glucose recovery from oil palm frond.
► Detail study on biomass composition changes during pretreatment under different pretreatment conditions.
► Study the changes in biomass crystallinity after pretreatment.
► Study the effects of biomass changes on digestibility and glucose recovery.