Hydrolytic Extraction and Biomimetic Catalysis of Hemicellulose from Water Hyacinth Holocellulose Using Glutamic Acid
Abstract
The increasing demand for sustainable energy has intensified research into biomass-based alternatives. Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), a fast-growing aquatic plant with high hemicellulose content, presents a promising lignocellulosic feedstock for biofuel production. However, conventional hydrolysis methods often require extreme conditions and generate inhibitory by-products. This study investigates the application of glutamic acid, a dicarboxylic amino acid, as a biomimetic catalyst for the hydrolysis of hemicellulose extracted from water hyacinth holocellulose. Hydrolysis reactions were conducted at controlled temperatures (40°C, 60°C, and 80°C), with catalyst concentrations of 1.5 mM and 22 mM, and reaction durations of 1, 3, and 5 hours. The catalyst was introduced by post-temperature stabilization, and all experiments were performed in duplicate to ensure reproducibility. The results demonstrated a positive correlation between temperature, catalyst concentration, and hydrolysis efficiency. The highest xylose yield of 3.14% and a conversion of 43.0% were achieved at 80°C with 22 mM glutamic acid after 5 hours. These findings suggest that glutamic acid can facilitate hemicellulose hydrolysis under mild conditions, though further optimization is needed to improve yield and scalability.
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