Effect of hydrothermal pretreatment on sugarcane bagasse to enhance the production of hydrogen and organic acids

Sugarcane bagasse (SCB) was characterised as a feedstock to generate value-added products using hydrothermal pretreatments (150-210 degrees C and 10-20 minutes). The furfural production increased according to pretreatment severity, varying from 84.00 mg/L at 150 degrees C to 1.66 mg/L at 210 degrees C in the liquid phase. Furthermore, the total sugar (glucose plus fructose) increased from 65.60 mg/L, at 150 degrees C to 1.114.30 mg/L, at 210 degrees C. The Klason lignin from the solid phase varied from 19.00% to 30.40% in the in natura SCB and in the SCB pretreated at 210 degrees C, respectively. The highest H-2 production (109.35 mL/L) was obtained for the assay with SCB pretreated by the most severe treatment (210 degrees C for 10 minutes at 16 bar). The total organic acid concentration increased when the pretreatment temperature was increased from 150 degrees C (6.99 mg/L) to 210 degrees C (408.30 mg/L). Therefore, it can be inferred that the hydrothermal pretreatment severities affect the hydrogen and organic acids production from SCB.