Comparison of sodium hydroxide and calcium hydroxide pretreatments on the enzymatic hydrolysis and lignin recovery of sugarcane bagasse.

Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)(2)) respectively dissolved in water and 70% glycerol were applied to treat sugarcane bagasse (SCB) under the condition of 80 degrees C for 2 h. NaOH solutions could remove more lignin and obtain higher enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency of SCB than Ca(OH)(2) solutions. Compared with the alkali-water solutions, the enzymatic hydrolysis of SCB treated in NaOH-glycerol solution decreased, while that in Ca(OH)(2)-glycerol solution increased. The lignin in NaOH-water pretreatment liquor could be easily recovered by calcium chloride (CaCl2) at room temperature, but that in Ca(OH)(2)-water pretreatment liquor couldn't. NaOH pretreatment is more suitable for facilitating enzymatic hydrolysis and lignin recovery of SCB than Ca(OH)(2) pretreatment.