木質纖維素(lignocellulose)是來源最豐沛的可再生生物質,可由農業和林業廢棄物及能源作物取得。經由適當的轉化程序,木質纖維素可生產生質燃料與各式化學品,可望部分取代目前石油的角色。木質纖維素是一種複雜的天然高分子複合體主要由纖維素、半纖維素、木質素組成,其不同於澱粉質原料可直接經由酵素糖化後醱酵,必須透過適當之前處理,適度地破壞其結構,並分離此三種成分,以作最有效之運用。 本研究以稻殼為原料,先用蒸煮爆碎法(steam explosion)於不同溫度與不同壓力下進行前處理,蒸爆後固體渣再分別以熱水或鹼液浸泡沖洗,探討不同前處理條件對後續木質素移除與纖維素酵素糖化的影響。
The problem of global warming and the storage of fossil fuels stimulate intense research into renewable sources of fuels and chemicals. Lignocellulose is the most abundant renewable biomass, including agricultural and forestry residues and herbaceous and woody crops. Lignocellulosic materials provide a unique resource for sustainable production of organic fuels and chemicals, which are now mostly derived from petroleum. However, the effective utilization of lignocellulosic materials is limited by the close association of the three main components of the plant cells wall, cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Pretreatment is required to alter the structure of lignocellulosic biomass to make them more susceptible to bioprocesses such as enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation. In this study, rice hulls were subjected to steam explosion pretreatment at various temperatures and pressures. The exploded materials were further submitted to hot water wash or alkaline peroxide treatment. The effects on delignification and enzymatic hydrolysis were investigated.