Table 1 Pretreatment conditions, corresponding solids compositions, and component removals for pretreatment of corn stover by dilute acid (DA), ammonia fiber expansion (AFEX™), and ionic liquid (IL)

Pretreatment conditions

Chemicals

NA

Dilute sulfuric acid

Anhydrous ammonia

1-ethyl‒3‒methyl‒imidazoliumacetate

Loadings

NA

0.5% wt

1:1 (Biomass: NH₃)

1:9 (Biomass: IL)

L/S ratio

NA

9:1

1:1

9:1

Temperature (°C)

NA

160

140

140

Time (min)

NA

20

15

180

Component (%)

Glucan

33.4

59.1

33.5

46.9

Xylan

24.9

6.5

24.8

29.8

Arabinan

3.7

3.6

3.3

0.3

Lignin (AIL)

17.2

32.2

12.2

2.7

Component removal (%)*

Solid

51.0

0

36.0

Xylan

-

87.0

0.4

23.4

Lignin

-

8.2

2.8

89.9