Ho Huu Tho
Senior Member
#25.9
3.1. Cellulose cristallinity (cristallinity index, CrI)
Degree of polymerization and cellulose crystallinity have been considered as important factors in determining the hydrolysis rates of relatively refined cellulosic substrates (Chang and Holtzapple, 2000), but data from several independent investigations indicate that these parameters alone do not explain the recalcitrance of lignocellulosic substrates (Puri, 1984). In fact, cellulases complexes capable of hydrolyzing crystalline cellulose have been identified (Mansfield et al., 1999). In some studies wherein crystallinity was suggested to be important, the lignocellulosic materials were mechanically pretreated, therefore any decrease in crystallinity was accompanied by an alteration of other substrate characteristics such as particle size reduction or increase in available surface area.
It has been observed that pretreatment of lignocellulosics improves its hydrolysability but in some cases increases the CrI of the cellulose fraction. This fact has been suggested to be due to the removal or reduction of more easily available amorphous cellulose after pretreatments such steam explosion (Mansfield et al., 1999). In contrast, high pH pretreatments have been shown to have less effect and even reduced biomass cristallinity in some instances (Kumar et al., 2009b).
3.1. Cellulose cristallinity (cristallinity index, CrI)
Degree of polymerization and cellulose crystallinity have been considered as important factors in determining the hydrolysis rates of relatively refined cellulosic substrates (Chang and Holtzapple, 2000), but data from several independent investigations indicate that these parameters alone do not explain the recalcitrance of lignocellulosic substrates (Puri, 1984). In fact, cellulases complexes capable of hydrolyzing crystalline cellulose have been identified (Mansfield et al., 1999). In some studies wherein crystallinity was suggested to be important, the lignocellulosic materials were mechanically pretreated, therefore any decrease in crystallinity was accompanied by an alteration of other substrate characteristics such as particle size reduction or increase in available surface area.
It has been observed that pretreatment of lignocellulosics improves its hydrolysability but in some cases increases the CrI of the cellulose fraction. This fact has been suggested to be due to the removal or reduction of more easily available amorphous cellulose after pretreatments such steam explosion (Mansfield et al., 1999). In contrast, high pH pretreatments have been shown to have less effect and even reduced biomass cristallinity in some instances (Kumar et al., 2009b).