초록
<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>The aim of this study were to efficiently produce fermentable sugars by continuous type supercritical water hydrolysis (SCWH) of <I>Quercus mongolica</I> at the pilot scale with varying acid catalyst loading and to use the obtained sugars for ethanol production. The SCWH of biomass was achieved in under one second (380°C, 230bar) using 0.01–0.1% H<SUB>2</SUB>SO<SUB>4</SUB>. With 0.05% H<SUB>2</SUB>SO<SUB>4</SUB>, 49.8% of sugars, including glucose (16.5% based on biomass) and xylose monomers (10.8%), were liberated from biomass. The hydrolysates were fermented with <I>S. cerevisiae</I> DXSP and D452-2 to estimate ethanol production. To prepare the fermentation medium, the hydrolysates were detoxified using activated charcoal and then concentrated. The ethanol yield of fermentation with <I>S. cerevisiae</I> DXSP was 14.1% (based on biomass). The proposed system has potential for improvement in yield through process optimization. After further development, it is expected to be a competitive alternative to traditional systems for ethanol production from woody biomass.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Sugars were produced by pilot-scale supercritical water hydrolysis of biomass. </LI> <LI> SCWH of biomass was achieved at 380°C and 230bar (<1s) using dilute H<SUB>2</SUB>SO<SUB>4</SUB>. </LI> <LI> 49.8% of sugars (glucose and xylose) were liberated from biomass via SCWH. </LI> <LI> Hydrolysates were detoxified and concentrated for fermentation. </LI> <LI> Ethanol yield of fermentation with <I>S. cerevisiae</I> DXSP was 14.1kg/100kg biomass. </LI> </UL> </P>