Optimization of Biomass Delignification by Extrusion and Analysis of Extrudate Characteristics

Delon Konan, Adama Ndao, Ekoun Koffi, Saïd Elkoun, Mathieu Robert, Denis Rodrigue and Kokou Adjallé ()
Additional contact information
Delon Konan: Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnologies, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Quebec City, QC G1P 4S5, Canada
Adama Ndao: Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnologies, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Quebec City, QC G1P 4S5, Canada
Ekoun Koffi: Department of Mechanic and Energy Engineering, Institut National Polytechnique Felix Houphouët Boigny (INPHB), Yamoussoukro BP 1093, Côte d’Ivoire
Saïd Elkoun: Center for Innovation in Technological Ecodesign (CITE), University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada
Mathieu Robert: Center for Innovation in Technological Ecodesign (CITE), University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada
Denis Rodrigue: Department of Chemical Engineering, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
Kokou Adjallé: Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnologies, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Quebec City, QC G1P 4S5, Canada

Waste, 2025, vol. 3, issue 2, 1-27

Abstract: Pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass remains the primary obstacle to the profitable use of this type of biomass in biorefineries. The challenge lies in the recalcitrance of the lignin-carbohydrate complex to pretreatment, especially the difficulty in removing the lignin to access the carbohydrates (cellulose and hemicellulose). This study had two objectives: (i) to investigate the effect of reactive extrusion on lignocellulosic biomass in terms of delignification percentage and the structural characteristics of the resulting extrudates, and (ii) to propose a novel pretreatment approach involving extrusion technology based on the results of the first objective. Two types of biomasses were used: agricultural residue (corn stover) and forest residue (black spruce chips). By optimizing the extrusion conditions via response surface analysis (RSA), the delignification percentages were significantly improved. For corn stover, the delignification yield increased from 2.3% to 27.4%, while increasing from 1% to 25.3% for black spruce chips. The highest percentages were achieved without the use of sodium hydroxide and for temperatures below 65 °C. Furthermore, the optimized extrudates exhibited important structural changes without any formation of p-cresol, furfural, and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) (enzymes and microbial growth-inhibiting compounds). Acetic acid however was detected in corn stover extrudate. The structural changes included the disorganization of the most recalcitrant functional groups, reduction of particle sizes, increase of specific surface areas, and the appearance of microscopic roughness on the particles. Analyzing all the data led to propose a new promising approach to the pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomasses. This approach involves combining extrusion and biodelignification with white rot fungi to improve the enzymatic hydrolysis of carbohydrates.

Keywords: biomass pretreatment; extrusion; pretreatment optimization; response surface methodology; biodelignification (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q16 Q18 Q2 Q20 Q23 Q24 Q25 Q28 Q3 Q31 Q38 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2813-0391/3/2/12/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2813-0391/3/2/12/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jwaste:v:3:y:2025:i:2:p:12-:d:1619651

Access Statistics for this article

Waste is currently edited by Mr. Sumail Li

More articles in Waste from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().