Search for optimum conditions of sugarcane bagasse hemicellulose extraction

Abstract A process has been elaborated for one-step low lignin content sugarcane bagasse hemicellulose extraction using alkaline solution of hydrogen peroxide. To maximize the hemicellulose yields several extraction conditions were examined applying the 2 4 factorial design: H 2 O 2 concentration from 2 to 6% (w/v), reaction time from 4 to 16 h, temperature from 20 to 60 °C, and magnesium sulfate absence or presence (0.5%, w/v). This approach allowed selection of conditions for the extraction of low and high lignin content hemicellulose. At midpoint the yield of hemicellulose was 94.5% with more than 88% of lignin removed. Lignin removal is suppressed at low extraction temperatures and in the absence of magnesium sulfate. Hemicellulose in 86% yield with low lignin content (5.9%) was obtained with 6% H 2 O 2 treatment for 4 h and 20 °C. This hemicellulose is much lighter in color than samples obtained at the midpoint condition and was found suitable for subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis.