Evaluation of hydrothermal sugarcane bagasse treatment for the production of xylooligosaccharides in different pressures

Abstract

Abstract Hydrothermal processing is an organic solvent‐free technology capable of solubilizing hemicellulose in oligomers of interest. This study evaluated the influence of pressure (2.5 and 10 MPa) on the release of the main components of sugarcane bagasse (SCB) as reducing sugars, phenolic compounds and xylooligosaccharides (XOS) during hydrothermal treatment in a continuous flow mode for 30 min. The study carried out at 180°C showed that 85% of the sugar extraction capacity was reached after 15 min at both pressures. The evolution of pH, phenolic compounds released in the liquor and small changes in the lignocellulosic structure were also monitored and related to the effects of hydrothermal treatment. The xylose content was similar at both pressures (22 mg/g xylan), while the XOS (X2‐X6) yield was 87.5 and 111.4 mg/g xylan at 2.5 and 10 MPa, respectively. A mass balance was used to estimate that 6.76 kg of XOS could be produced from 100 kg of SCB treated at 180°C, 2.5 MPa, and 15 min. Practical Applications Sugarcane production generates a large amount of by‐products. The study aimed to use sugarcane bagasse (SCB) for the extraction of xylooligosaccharides through hydrothermal processing whose the influence of two pressures (2.5 and 10 MPa) in this process was evaluated. This process is an organic solvent‐free technology that establishes a sustainable strategy for the exploitation of this material. Residues (SCB) have great potential to be explored to prepare value‐added products in the food and pharmaceutical industries.