Changes in the Microstructure and Components of Eulaliopsis binata Treated by Continuous Screw Extrusion Steam Explosion

• Main Authors: Yanhong Feng, Bo Lei, Yong Liang, Huiting Zhong, Xiaochun Yin, Jinping Qu, Hezhi He
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: North Carolina State University 2016-09-01
• Series: BioResources
• Subjects: Microstructure; Components; Lignin; Screw extrusion steam explosion; Van soest; Eulaliopsis binata
• Online Access: http://ojs.cnr.ncsu.edu/index.php/BioRes/article/view/BioRes_11_4_9455_Feng_Microstructure_Components_Eulaliopsis_Steam_Explosion

Eulaliopsis binata (EB) was pretreated by continuous screw extrusion steam explosion (SESE), with the aim of converting EB into useful materials on an industrial scale. The three main chemical components were characterized by component analysis using the Van Soest fiber detergent system, ultraviolet (UV) absorption spectrophotometry, gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (13C-NMR) spectroscopy. Changes in the contents of detergent soluble species in the Van Soest process revealed the partial degradation of hemicellulose and cellulose, and the partial removal of lignin. GPC indicated that the molecular weight of lignin decreased from 4194 to 3710 g/mol over the first three SESE pretreatment cycles, but then increased to 4592 g/mol following the fourth SESE pretreatment cycle. UV absorption and 13C-NMR results indicated the partial removal of lignin and the depolymerization and repolymerization of lignin during SESE pretreatment. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the epidermis and parenchyma of EB were almost completely desquamated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed that the crystallinity of EB initially increased and then subsequently decreased slightly, with increasing number of SESE pretreatment cycles. The varying physicochemical properties of EB resulting from different numbers of pretreatment cycles may find use in more diverse applications.