Bioconversion of municipal solid waste to glucose for bio-ethanol production.

Selected biodegradable municipal solid waste fractions were subjected to fifteen different pre-hydrolysis treatments to obtain the highest glucose yield for bio-ethanol production. Pre-hydrolysis treatments consisted of dilute acid (H(2)SO(4), HNO(3) or HCl, 1 and 4%, 180 min, 60 degrees C), steam treatment (121 and 134 degrees C, 15 min), microwave treatment (700 W, 2 min) or a combination of two of them. Enzymatic hydrolysis was carried out with Trichoderma reesei and Trichoderma viride (10 and 60 FPU g(-1) substrate). Glucose yields were compared using a factorial experimental design. The highest glucose yield (72.80%) was obtained with a pre-hydrolysis treatment consisting of H(2)SO(4) at 1% concentration, followed by steam treatment at 121 degrees C, and enzymatic hydrolysis with Trichoderma viride at 60 FPU g(-1) substrate. The contribution of enzyme loading and acid concentration was significantly higher (49.39 and 47.70%, respectively), than the contribution of temperature during steam treatment (0.13%) to the glucose yield.