Study of the phenolic compounds formed during pretreatment of sugarcane bagasse by wet oxidation and steam explosion

Abstract

Abstract The formation of phenolic compounds during pretreatment of sugarcane bagasse was investigated. Bagasse was pretreated by wet oxidation (WO) at 195°C during 15 min under either alkaline or acidic conditions and by steam explosion (STEX) at 205°C during 10 min. The total content of phenolic compounds in the prehydrolysates was determined spectrophotometrically. Under acidic and alkaline WO conditions, 3.8% (w/w) and 3% phenols were found, respectively. STEX gave rise to 1.9% phenols. Individual phenols were identified by GC-MS. Phenylpropanoid derivatives, such as p -coumaric and ferulic acids, accounted for more than 50% of the phenols identified in STEX prehydrolysates. In WO prehydrolysates, on the other hand, phenols lacking the propanoid side chain were predominant. Of the latter, p -hydroxybenzaldehyde was the most abundant phenol, with concentrations of 0.27% (acidic conditions) and 0.15% (alkaline conditions). As expected, high concentrations of oxidised compounds were generally observed in WO prehydrolysates, such as carboxylic acids, aldehydes and ketones. This is a true reflection of the oxidative conditions during WO pretreatment.