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Microscopic examination of changes of plant cell structure in corn stover due to hot water pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis

  1. Meijuan Zeng1,2,
  2. Nathan S. Mosier1,2,
  3. Chia-Ping Huang4,
  4. Debra M. Sherman4,
  5. Michael R. Ladisch1,2,3,*

Article first published online: 12 DEC 2006

DOI: 10.1002/bit.21298

Issue

Biotechnology and Bioengineering

Biotechnology and Bioengineering

Volume 97, Issue 2, pages 265–278, 1 June 2007

Additional Information

How to Cite

Zeng, M., Mosier, N. S., Huang, C.-P., Sherman, D. M. and Ladisch, M. R. (2007), Microscopic examination of changes of plant cell structure in corn stover due to hot water pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis. Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 97: 265–278. doi: 10.1002/bit.21298

Author Information

  1. 1

    Laboratory of Renewable Resources Engineering, Potter Engineering Center, 500 Central Drive, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907; telephone: 765-494-7022, fax: 765-494-7023

  2. 2

    Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Purdue University, 225 South University Street, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907

  3. 3

    Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, 206 S. Intramural Drive, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907

  4. 4

    Life Science Microscopy Facility, Purdue University, S-052 Whistler Building, 170 S. University Street, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907

*Laboratory of Renewable Resources Engineering, Potter Engineering Center, 500 Central Drive, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907; telephone: 765-494-7022, fax: 765-494-7023.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 23 APR 2007
  2. Article first published online: 12 DEC 2006
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 30 NOV 2006
  4. Manuscript Received: 11 JUL 2006

Funded by

  • U.S. Department of Agriculture
  • U.S. Department of Energy
  • Agricultural Research Programs at Purdue University
  • Purdue University. Grant Numbers: IFAFS 00-52104-9663, DE-FC36-01GO11075

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Keywords:

  • corn stover;
  • particle size;
  • hot water pretreatment;
  • enzymatic hydrolysis;
  • SEM image;
  • glucose conversion;
  • accessible surface area

Abstract

Particle size associated with accessible surface area has a significant impact on the saccharification of plant cell walls by cellulolytic enzymes. Small particle sizes of untreated cellulosic substrate are more readily hydrolyzed than large ones because of higher specific surface area. Pretreatment enlarges accessible and susceptible surface area leading to enhanced cellulose hydrolysis. These hypotheses were tested using ground corn stover in the size ranges of 425–710 and 53–75 µm. Ultrastructural changes in these particles were imaged after treatment with cellulolytic enzymes before and after liquid hot water pretreatment. The smaller 53–75 µm corn stover particles are 1.5× more susceptible to hydrolysis than 425–710 µm corn stover particles. This difference between the two particle size ranges is eliminated when the stover is pretreated with liquid hot water pretreatment at 190°C for 15 min, at pH between 4.3 and 6.2. This pretreatment causes ultrastructural changes and formation of micron-sized pores that make the cellulose more accessible to hydrolytic enzymes. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2007;97: 265–278. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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