Short-time alkaline peroxide pretreatment for rapid pulping and efficient enzymatic hydrolysis of rice straw.

To improve utilization of agricultural residues in biorefineries, the effects of alkaline peroxide (AP) pretreatment on thermal degradation and enzymatic digestibility of rice straw were investigated. A high-cellulose (>70%) pulp with a width of a few micrometers was obtained by rapid (10min) treatment with AP, without prior heating or other treatment. Moreover, enzymatic hydrolysis of the pulp produced a high glucose yield (approximately 80%). Microfibril networks were exposed, and many nano-scale pores that are easily penetrated by cellulases were observed on the surface of the AP-treated sample. For enzymatic hydrolysis of the pulp, increasing the dosage of cellulases was more effective for improving the glucose yield than addition of a grinding treatment. This AP treatment has the potential for on-site application because it is simple, highly efficient, and can be performed in a short time.