초록
To evaluate the potential of gamagrass as a feedstock for biofuels, seven gamagrass varieties were analyzed for their chemical composition and subjected to pretreatment at 121<SUP>o</SUP>C using 1% NaOH/H<SUB>2</SUB>SO<SUB>4</SUB> (w/w) for 60min and enzymatic hydrolysis for fermentable sugar production. Based on total sugar yield, the varieties Eagle Point Devil Corn and Sun Devil were selected for NaOH and H<SUB>2</SUB>SO<SUB>4</SUB> pretreatment, respectively. The investigation on pretreatment conditions showed that, the conditions applied in gamagrass variety screening (121<SUP>o</SUP>C, 1% NaOH/H<SUB>2</SUB>SO<SUB>4</SUB>, 60min) were sufficient to maximize sugar production, such that the total sugar yield of Eagle Point Devil Corn reached 479.6mgg<SUP>-1</SUP> after NaOH pretreatment and that of Sun Devil reached 456.5mgg<SUP>-1</SUP> raw biomass after H<SUB>2</SUB>SO<SUB>4</SUB> pretreatment. Compared with other potential energy crops including switchgrass and Bermuda grass, gamagrass gave a higher sugar yield after NaOH pretreatment and a comparable sugar yield after H<SUB>2</SUB>SO<SUB>4</SUB> pretreatment.