Elucidation of the Effect of Ionic Liquid Pretreatment on Rice Husk via Structural Analyses

Biotechnology for Biofuels, 5, 67.

10 Pages Posted: 19 Jan 2015

See all articles by Teck Nam

Teck Nam

The University of Auckland

Gek-Cheng Ngoh

University of Malaya (UM) - Department of Chemistry

Adeline Seak May Chua

University of Malaya (UM)

Min Gyu Lee

Pukyong National University

Date Written: 2012

Abstract

Background: In the present study, three ionic liquids, namely 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([BMIM]Cl), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([EMIM]OAc), and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium diethyl phosphate ([EMIM]DEP), were used to partially dissolve rice husk, after which the cellulose were regenerated by the addition of water. The aim of the investigation is to examine the implications of the ionic liquid pretreatments on rice husk composition and structure.

Results: From the attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform-infrared (ATR FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results, the regenerated cellulose were more amorphous, less crystalline, and possessed higher structural disruption compared with untreated rice husk. The major component of regenerated cellulose from [BMIM]Cl and [EMIM]DEP pretreatments was cellulose-rich material, while cellulose regenerated from [EMIM]OAc was a matrix of cellulose and lignin. Cellulose regenerated from ionic pretreatments could be saccharified via enzymatic hydrolysis, and resulted in relatively high reducing sugars yields, whereas enzymatic hydrolysis of untreated rice husk did not yield reducing sugars. Rice husk residues generated from the ionic liquid pretreatments had similar chemical composition and amorphousity to that of untreated rice husk, but with varying extent of surface disruption and swelling.

Conclusions: The structural architecture of the regenerated cellulose and rice husk residues showed that they could be used for subsequent fermentation or derivation of cellulosic compounds. Therefore, ionic liquid pretreatment is an alternative in the pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass in addition to the conventional chemical pretreatments.

Keywords: Rice husk, Ionic liquid, Dissolution, Pretreatment, Regenerated cellulose, Structural analysis

JEL Classification: C09, C93, N55, O13, Q00, Q10, Q16, Q20, Q23, Q40, Q42

Suggested Citation

Ang, Teck Nam and Ngoh, Gek-Cheng and Chua, Adeline Seak May and Lee, Min Gyu, Elucidation of the Effect of Ionic Liquid Pretreatment on Rice Husk via Structural Analyses (2012). Biotechnology for Biofuels, 5, 67., Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2550031

Teck Nam Ang (Contact Author)

The University of Auckland ( email )

Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering
Auckland, AK 1010
New Zealand

Gek-Cheng Ngoh

University of Malaya (UM) - Department of Chemistry

Jalan Lembah Pantai
Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan 50603
Malaysia

Adeline Seak May Chua

University of Malaya (UM) ( email )

Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan 50603
University of Malaya (UM)
Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan 50603
Malaysia

Min Gyu Lee

Pukyong National University ( email )

599-1 Daeyeo-dong, Nam-Gu
Pusan 608-737
Korea, Republic of (South Korea)

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