초록
<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>In this study, sugarcane bagasse (SCB) pretreated with alkali assisted hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) was investigated for simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process for bioethanol production in interconnected column reactors using immobilized <I>Scheffersomyces stipitis</I> NRRL-Y7124. Initially, HC was employed for the evaluation of the reagent used in alkaline pretreatment. Alkalis (NaOH, KOH, Na<SUB>2</SUB>CO<SUB>3</SUB>, Ca(OH)<SUB>2</SUB>) and NaOH recycled black liquor (successive batches) were used and their pretreatment effectiveness was assessed considering the solid composition and its enzymatic digestibility. In SSF process using NaOH-HC pretreatment SCB, 62.33% of total carbohydrate fractions were hydrolyzed and 17.26g/L of ethanol production (0.48g of ethanol/g of glucose and xylose consumed) was achieved. This proposed scheme of HC-assisted NaOH pretreatment together with our interconnected column reactors showed to be an interesting new approach for biorefineries.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> NaOH present better performance for pretreatment of SCB in HC process. </LI> <LI> >80% of cellulose hydrolysis yield was obtained by reusing black liquor. </LI> <LI> More than 60% of carbohydrate fraction was hydrolyzed in SSF process. </LI> <LI> High ethanol yield (0.48g/g) was obtained in SSF using immobilized cells. </LI> <LI> Interconnected column reactors were successfully used for SSF process. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>