Bio-catalytic action of twin-screw extruder enzymatic hydrolysis on the deconstruction of annual plant material: Case of sweet corn co-products

• Process combines thermo-mechano-chemical and the bio-catalytic action in extruder.
• Sweet corn co-products serve as a biomass model.
• Impact of biocatalytic action on deconstruction of lignocellulosic biomass is studied.
• Saccharification begins during bioextrusion.
• Hydrolytic enzymes are not deactivated during bioextrusion.

A continuous process combining an alkaline thermo-mechano-chemical pretreatment neutralization step, followed by injection of enzymes into the twin-screw extruder, was developed using sweet corn co-products as a biomass model. The implementation of the continuous process is described. Particular attention is paid to the influence of the bio-catalytic action of enzymatic hydrolysis on the deconstruction of annual plant material in the twin-screw extruder (a process called “bioextrusion”). The use of a twin-screw extruder allows working with high consistency (20%), in a high shear environment, for a short time (∼2 min). In the present work, the nature of the ligno(hemi)cellulosic material transformations, covering solubilization and extraction of saccharides and modification of cellulosic fibers, were investigated. 41% of hemicelluloses and 14% of lignin are extracted by the alkaline pretreatment. Hydrolytic enzymes are not deactivated during bioextrusion, which has a destructing effect on the fiber. It leads to a change of rheological properties and induces an increase of sugars released in the form of mono and polysaccharides (up to 13%/DM of total sugars) with longer chains than in the case of a batch reactor. At the same time, the degree of polymerization decreases and a shortening of the cellulose chains occurs.