Among the lignocellulosic materials explored for bioconversion into value-added products, sugarcane bagasse (SB) has shown profound applications. Considering its recalcitrance structure, dilute acid hydrolysis (DAH) is necessary to release fermentable sugars for their subsequent bio-based conversion into products of commercial significance. In addition to sugars, toxic compounds are also released during DAH, which are inhibitors to fermenting microorganisms. Detoxification of SB hydrolysates is necessary to eliminate inhibitors from the hydrolysates. This study aimed to evaluate the process of dilute acid hydrolysis for SB to obtain a hydrolysate rich in xylose followed by its detoxification by overliming and activated charcoal. DAH showed xylose concentration of 12.5 g/L. The obtained hydrolysate was concentrated 3 times by vacuum evaporation and submitted to detoxification by calcium oxide overliming followed by activated charcoal. The concentrated acid hydrolysate after detoxification showed a xylose concentration of 33.0 g/L and a reduction of 81% and 61% for furfural and HFM, respectively. The results obtained from the study are effective to obtain a hydrolysate rich in fermentable sugars, with a low amount of inhibitors compounds which can be directly employed in fermentative process for the production of several commercially important products.

Proceedings of the 20th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 18-22 June 2012, Milan, Italy, pp. 1603-1606