초록
<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>The present study developed three different microwave-assisted alkalic salt pretreatments (Na<SUB>3</SUB>PO<SUB>4</SUB>·12H<SUB>2</SUB>O, Na<SUB>2</SUB>CO<SUB>3</SUB> and CH<SUB>3</SUB>COONa) to improve sugar yield from corn cob wastes. Process inputs included pretreatment time, alkalic salt concentration and microwave power intensity with the sugar yield as the corresponding output. All three pretreatment models gave high coefficient of determination values (R<SUP>2</SUP>> 0.85). The Na<SUB>3</SUB>PO<SUB>4</SUB>·12H<SUB>2</SUB>O treatment (11.55% Na<SUB>3</SUB>PO<SUB>4</SUB>.12H<SUB>2</SUB>O at 700 W for 6 min) led to the maximum sugar yield (0.76 ± 0.01 g/g). All three pretreatment methods displayed key structural changes in the corn cob structure after pretreatment. This study gave an 11% higher sugar yield in contrast to a previous microwave-assisted pretreatment report on corn cobs. The developed pretreatment strategy was effective for improving the sugar recovery from lignocellulosic wastes and can be channelled towards microbial production of fuels and high value commodities.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Three microwave-assisted alkalic salt pretreatment models were developed. </LI> <LI> The highest reducing sugar yield (0.76 ± 0.01 g/g) was obtained using Na<SUB>3</SUB>PO<SUB>4</SUB>.12H<SUB>2</SUB>O. </LI> <LI> This pretreatment method demonstrated a 7-fold increase in the sugar yield. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>