(444d) Visualization and Characterization of Maize (corn stover) Cell Wall Deconstruction By Deacetylation, Ozonation, and Mechanical Refining Pretreatments | AIChE

(444d) Visualization and Characterization of Maize (corn stover) Cell Wall Deconstruction By Deacetylation, Ozonation, and Mechanical Refining Pretreatments

Authors 

Ramaswamy, S. - Presenter, University of Minnesota
Frischmon, C., University of Minnesota
Donohoe, B., National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Chen, X., National Renewable Energy Laboratory
A novel pretreatment strategy for lignocellulosic biomass conversion called deacetylation and mechanical refining (DMR) improves sugar yields from enzymatic conversion, but the specific mechanisms involved in this technique are not well known. Visualization and characterization of pretreated corn stover was carried out to better understand how DMR improves biomass digestibility. Structural changes to the tissue structure were revealed by brightfield microscopy, where cells were separated and tissue structure was partially collapsed. Within the cell walls, delamination and an opening of the wall architecture was observed by 3D-electron tomography. In addition, microfibril separation perpendicular to the orientation of the cell wall lamella was shown. The direction of cell wall disruption is unique to DMR pretreatment and may aid in increasing sugar yields by providing more access for pretreatment chemicals and enzymes to enter the cell wall. Quantitative 3D structural analysis revealed large pores created in some biomass cell wall regions that could provide additional access for enzymes into the cell wall, even as some cell wall regions of DMR samples maintained characteristics similar to the control samples. This variable deconstruction provides an opportunity to improve DMR pretreatment to more uniformly deconstruct the cell wall.

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