Optimization of Biomass Delignification by Extrusion and Analysis of Extrudate Characteristics

Pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass remains the primary obstacle to the profitable use of this type of biomass in biorefineries. The challenge lies in the recalcitrance of the lignin-carbohydrate complex to pretreatment, especially the difficulty in removing the lignin to access the carbohydrate...

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Main Authors: Delon Konan, Adama Ndao, Ekoun Koffi, Saïd Elkoun, Mathieu Robert, Denis Rodrigue, Kokou Adjallé
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Waste
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2813-0391/3/2/12
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author Delon Konan
Adama Ndao
Ekoun Koffi
Saïd Elkoun
Mathieu Robert
Denis Rodrigue
Kokou Adjallé
author_facet Delon Konan
Adama Ndao
Ekoun Koffi
Saïd Elkoun
Mathieu Robert
Denis Rodrigue
Kokou Adjallé
author_sort Delon Konan
collection DOAJ
description Pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass remains the primary obstacle to the profitable use of this type of biomass in biorefineries. The challenge lies in the recalcitrance of the lignin-carbohydrate complex to pretreatment, especially the difficulty in removing the lignin to access the carbohydrates (cellulose and hemicellulose). This study had two objectives: (i) to investigate the effect of reactive extrusion on lignocellulosic biomass in terms of delignification percentage and the structural characteristics of the resulting extrudates, and (ii) to propose a novel pretreatment approach involving extrusion technology based on the results of the first objective. Two types of biomasses were used: agricultural residue (corn stover) and forest residue (black spruce chips). By optimizing the extrusion conditions via response surface analysis (RSA), the delignification percentages were significantly improved. For corn stover, the delignification yield increased from 2.3% to 27.4%, while increasing from 1% to 25.3% for black spruce chips. The highest percentages were achieved without the use of sodium hydroxide and for temperatures below 65 °C. Furthermore, the optimized extrudates exhibited important structural changes without any formation of p-cresol, furfural, and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) (enzymes and microbial growth-inhibiting compounds). Acetic acid however was detected in corn stover extrudate. The structural changes included the disorganization of the most recalcitrant functional groups, reduction of particle sizes, increase of specific surface areas, and the appearance of microscopic roughness on the particles. Analyzing all the data led to propose a new promising approach to the pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomasses. This approach involves combining extrusion and biodelignification with white rot fungi to improve the enzymatic hydrolysis of carbohydrates.
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spelling doaj-art-43ccf81588b5414c8f394fe9d2fe52db2025-08-20T03:32:31ZengMDPI AGWaste2813-03912025-03-01321210.3390/waste3020012Optimization of Biomass Delignification by Extrusion and Analysis of Extrudate CharacteristicsDelon Konan0Adama Ndao1Ekoun Koffi2Saïd Elkoun3Mathieu Robert4Denis Rodrigue5Kokou Adjallé6Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnologies, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Quebec City, QC G1P 4S5, CanadaLaboratory of Environmental Biotechnologies, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Quebec City, QC G1P 4S5, CanadaDepartment of Mechanic and Energy Engineering, Institut National Polytechnique Felix Houphouët Boigny (INPHB), Yamoussoukro BP 1093, Côte d’IvoireCenter for Innovation in Technological Ecodesign (CITE), University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, CanadaCenter for Innovation in Technological Ecodesign (CITE), University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, CanadaDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, CanadaLaboratory of Environmental Biotechnologies, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Quebec City, QC G1P 4S5, CanadaPretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass remains the primary obstacle to the profitable use of this type of biomass in biorefineries. The challenge lies in the recalcitrance of the lignin-carbohydrate complex to pretreatment, especially the difficulty in removing the lignin to access the carbohydrates (cellulose and hemicellulose). This study had two objectives: (i) to investigate the effect of reactive extrusion on lignocellulosic biomass in terms of delignification percentage and the structural characteristics of the resulting extrudates, and (ii) to propose a novel pretreatment approach involving extrusion technology based on the results of the first objective. Two types of biomasses were used: agricultural residue (corn stover) and forest residue (black spruce chips). By optimizing the extrusion conditions via response surface analysis (RSA), the delignification percentages were significantly improved. For corn stover, the delignification yield increased from 2.3% to 27.4%, while increasing from 1% to 25.3% for black spruce chips. The highest percentages were achieved without the use of sodium hydroxide and for temperatures below 65 °C. Furthermore, the optimized extrudates exhibited important structural changes without any formation of p-cresol, furfural, and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) (enzymes and microbial growth-inhibiting compounds). Acetic acid however was detected in corn stover extrudate. The structural changes included the disorganization of the most recalcitrant functional groups, reduction of particle sizes, increase of specific surface areas, and the appearance of microscopic roughness on the particles. Analyzing all the data led to propose a new promising approach to the pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomasses. This approach involves combining extrusion and biodelignification with white rot fungi to improve the enzymatic hydrolysis of carbohydrates.https://www.mdpi.com/2813-0391/3/2/12biomass pretreatmentextrusionpretreatment optimizationresponse surface methodologybiodelignification
spellingShingle Delon Konan
Adama Ndao
Ekoun Koffi
Saïd Elkoun
Mathieu Robert
Denis Rodrigue
Kokou Adjallé
Optimization of Biomass Delignification by Extrusion and Analysis of Extrudate Characteristics
Waste
biomass pretreatment
extrusion
pretreatment optimization
response surface methodology
biodelignification
title Optimization of Biomass Delignification by Extrusion and Analysis of Extrudate Characteristics
title_full Optimization of Biomass Delignification by Extrusion and Analysis of Extrudate Characteristics
title_fullStr Optimization of Biomass Delignification by Extrusion and Analysis of Extrudate Characteristics
title_full_unstemmed Optimization of Biomass Delignification by Extrusion and Analysis of Extrudate Characteristics
title_short Optimization of Biomass Delignification by Extrusion and Analysis of Extrudate Characteristics
title_sort optimization of biomass delignification by extrusion and analysis of extrudate characteristics
topic biomass pretreatment
extrusion
pretreatment optimization
response surface methodology
biodelignification
url https://www.mdpi.com/2813-0391/3/2/12
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AT ekounkoffi optimizationofbiomassdelignificationbyextrusionandanalysisofextrudatecharacteristics
AT saidelkoun optimizationofbiomassdelignificationbyextrusionandanalysisofextrudatecharacteristics
AT mathieurobert optimizationofbiomassdelignificationbyextrusionandanalysisofextrudatecharacteristics
AT denisrodrigue optimizationofbiomassdelignificationbyextrusionandanalysisofextrudatecharacteristics
AT kokouadjalle optimizationofbiomassdelignificationbyextrusionandanalysisofextrudatecharacteristics