Autohydrolysis of Miscanthus x giganteus for the production of xylooligosaccharides (XOS): Kinetics, characterization and recovery

• Through autohydrolysis, XOS yield up to 13.5% (w/w) of initial biomass.
• Three optima conditions were 16 °C, 60 min; 180 °C, 20 min; 200 °C, 5 min.
• XOS from three optima conditions had similar degree of polymerization.
• Using carbon adsorption and ethanol elution, 47.9% of XOS was recovered.
• XOS with different DP could be fractionated by ethanol/water solution.

The optima conditions of production and purification of xylooligosaccharides (XOS) from Miscanthus x giganteus (MxG) were investigated. Using autohydrolysis, XOS were produced at 160, 180 and 200 °C at 60, 20 and 5 min, respectively. XOS yield up to 13.5% (w/w) of initial biomass and 69.2% (w/w) of xylan were achieved. Results from HPAEC-PAD analysis revealed that X1–X9 sugar oligomers were produced. Higher temperature and longer reaction time resulted in lower product molecular weight. The three optimum conditions had similar degrees of polymerization XOS. Using 10% activated carbon (w/v) with ethanol/water elution recovered 47.9% (w/w) of XOS from pretreated liquid phase. The XOS could be fractionated by degree of polymerization according to ethanol concentration in the ethanol/water elution. Most of the XOS were washed out in 30% and 50% ethanol/water (v/v) fractions. Recoveries of 91.8% xylobiose, 86.9% xylotriose, 66.3% xylotetrose, 56.2% xylopentose and 48.9% xylohexaose were observed in XOS.