Ongoing research focuses on developing methods to improve the conversion of biomass into biofuels. Traditional mechanical pretreatment like ball-milling increases the cellulose reactivity, but cellulose re-crystallizes in water, making the process ineffective. The goal of the project was to explore Hofmeister series-based salts and analyze the salts’ effects on cellulose re-crystallization and subsequent glucose yields post hydrolysis. The experiment was carried out in two parts, the first with a salt selection containing fixed-anions (Cl-), the second with a salt selection containing fixed-cations (Na+). The salts’ ability to suppress crystallinity correlates with its performance in glucose yield, showing that the performance of salts agrees with the Hofmeister series. Specifically, salting-in salt such as guanidinium chloride gives highest yield while salting-out salt like ammonium chloride has the lowest glucose yield. The yield differences were attributed to their ability to suppress recrystallization.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Ralph, Katherine L.

Subject

• Sustainability
• Energy

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-050221-174730
• 21176

Keyword

• Renewable
• Biomass
• Cellulose
• clean energy
• hydrolysis

Advisor

• Timko, Michael T.

Year

• 2021

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy

Date created

• 2021-05-02

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Mechanical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright