Sonia Rincön

Study of the influence of dilute acid pre-treatment conditions on glucose recovery from Moringa oleifera Lam for fuel-ethanol production

ABSTRACT The influence of temperature (175 to 195°C), residence time (5 to 15 min), and sulfuric acid concentration in high (2 to 4% w/w) and low (0.5 to 1.5% w/w) levels in dilute acid pretreatment of Moringa oleifera Lam is studied. Glucose recoveries in the liquid fraction and in the hydrolyzed insoluble fraction as well as the presence of inhibitors in the liquid fraction are determined. Best experimental results are achieved at 185°C, 2% w/w acid concentration, and 5 min reaction time obtaining a glucose recovery of 83.68%. An increment in 48.81% in glucose yield compared with the one of not pretreated Moringa is obtained. 0.13 g ethanol/g Moringa from fermentation of pre-hydrolysate and hydrolysate obtained at the optimal pre-treatment conditions are obtained.