木質纖維素是來源豐沛的可再生物質,是由纖維素、半纖維素與木質素組成的天然高分子複合體,經過適當的處理程序,可提取其中的糖分,發酵生產生質燃料與多種化學品。酵素糖化前之前處理是一關鍵步驟,對糖化率與產率有重大的影響。本研究針對狼尾草(Pennisetum purpureum)開發以蒸煮爆碎(Steam explosion)前處理法,來提升狼尾草糖化率的製程。本實驗室先前的實驗結果顯示,蒸煮爆碎搭配鹼浸泡是相當有效的組合,葡萄糖產率最高可達84%,蒸爆條件為200 ℃、8 min,對葡萄糖產率有顯著影響的蒸爆參數為溫度與時間,而物料粒徑大小的影響則不顯著。本論文旨在探討葡萄糖產率,是否可藉由蒸爆處理強度的增加而進一步提升,主要探討的操作參數包括溫度與時間。研究結果顯示,繼續增加蒸爆處理強度,雖可提高葡萄糖的糖化率,但無助於葡萄糖總產率的提升,因為鹼浸泡後葡萄糖的回收率亦同時下降。
Napier grass was submitted to steam explosion pretreatment to improve its enzymatic saccharification. Previous results indicate that steam explosion followed by alkaline delignification is an efficient pretreatment method for Napier grass. The maximum glucose yield, 84%, was obtained when steam explosion was performed at 200 ℃ for 8 min. In order to improve the glucose yield even further, Napier grass was subjected to steam explosion pretreatment at higher severity. The operating factors investigated included temperature and retention time. Experimental design was used to facilitate the design of experiments and the analysis of experimental results.