Modified Hydrothermal Pretreatment Conditions Enhance Alcohol Solubility of Lignin from Wheat Straw Biorefining

Lignin-rich residues from lignocellulosic biorefineries remain underutilized, limiting their economic viability. This study demonstrates how modifying hydrothermal pretreatments with temperatures and additives enhances the lignin-rich residue’s solubility in alcohol, a key step toward its valorizati...

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Main Authors: Tor Ivan Simonsen, Demi Tristan Djajadi, Sune Tjalfe Thomsen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Biomass
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8783/5/2/23
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author Tor Ivan Simonsen
Demi Tristan Djajadi
Sune Tjalfe Thomsen
author_facet Tor Ivan Simonsen
Demi Tristan Djajadi
Sune Tjalfe Thomsen
author_sort Tor Ivan Simonsen
collection DOAJ
description Lignin-rich residues from lignocellulosic biorefineries remain underutilized, limiting their economic viability. This study demonstrates how modifying hydrothermal pretreatments with temperatures and additives enhances the lignin-rich residue’s solubility in alcohol, a key step toward its valorization in biofuel and material applications. Effective carbohydrate removal greatly enhanced the residue’s alcohol solubility, supporting both saccharification and lignin utilization. Notably, a 5% hydrogen peroxide treatment doubled the residue’s alcohol solubility, reaching ~40%, while maintaining similar saccharification yields. Low concentrations of surfactants and oxidizers enhanced the alcohol solubility independently of the saccharification yield, while alkali improved both. These findings highlight that minor pretreatment adjustments, such as low-concentration additives, can optimize lignin’s utilization in biorefineries, while maintaining a high carbohydrate conversion
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series Biomass
spelling doaj-art-72cb1b4397c24c6aa16497592f76ae812025-08-20T02:24:22ZengMDPI AGBiomass2673-87832025-04-01522310.3390/biomass5020023Modified Hydrothermal Pretreatment Conditions Enhance Alcohol Solubility of Lignin from Wheat Straw BiorefiningTor Ivan Simonsen0Demi Tristan Djajadi1Sune Tjalfe Thomsen2Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, 1958 Copenhagen, DenmarkDepartment of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, 1958 Copenhagen, DenmarkDepartment of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, 1958 Copenhagen, DenmarkLignin-rich residues from lignocellulosic biorefineries remain underutilized, limiting their economic viability. This study demonstrates how modifying hydrothermal pretreatments with temperatures and additives enhances the lignin-rich residue’s solubility in alcohol, a key step toward its valorization in biofuel and material applications. Effective carbohydrate removal greatly enhanced the residue’s alcohol solubility, supporting both saccharification and lignin utilization. Notably, a 5% hydrogen peroxide treatment doubled the residue’s alcohol solubility, reaching ~40%, while maintaining similar saccharification yields. Low concentrations of surfactants and oxidizers enhanced the alcohol solubility independently of the saccharification yield, while alkali improved both. These findings highlight that minor pretreatment adjustments, such as low-concentration additives, can optimize lignin’s utilization in biorefineries, while maintaining a high carbohydrate conversionhttps://www.mdpi.com/2673-8783/5/2/23ligninadditivesenzyme saccharificationcold-processed lignin in ethanol oil (CLEO)marine fuelhydrothermal pretreatment
spellingShingle Tor Ivan Simonsen
Demi Tristan Djajadi
Sune Tjalfe Thomsen
Modified Hydrothermal Pretreatment Conditions Enhance Alcohol Solubility of Lignin from Wheat Straw Biorefining
Biomass
lignin
additives
enzyme saccharification
cold-processed lignin in ethanol oil (CLEO)
marine fuel
hydrothermal pretreatment
title Modified Hydrothermal Pretreatment Conditions Enhance Alcohol Solubility of Lignin from Wheat Straw Biorefining
title_full Modified Hydrothermal Pretreatment Conditions Enhance Alcohol Solubility of Lignin from Wheat Straw Biorefining
title_fullStr Modified Hydrothermal Pretreatment Conditions Enhance Alcohol Solubility of Lignin from Wheat Straw Biorefining
title_full_unstemmed Modified Hydrothermal Pretreatment Conditions Enhance Alcohol Solubility of Lignin from Wheat Straw Biorefining
title_short Modified Hydrothermal Pretreatment Conditions Enhance Alcohol Solubility of Lignin from Wheat Straw Biorefining
title_sort modified hydrothermal pretreatment conditions enhance alcohol solubility of lignin from wheat straw biorefining
topic lignin
additives
enzyme saccharification
cold-processed lignin in ethanol oil (CLEO)
marine fuel
hydrothermal pretreatment
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8783/5/2/23
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AT demitristandjajadi modifiedhydrothermalpretreatmentconditionsenhancealcoholsolubilityofligninfromwheatstrawbiorefining
AT sunetjalfethomsen modifiedhydrothermalpretreatmentconditionsenhancealcoholsolubilityofligninfromwheatstrawbiorefining