Title
Release of saccharides during hot water pretreatment of willow wood (Salix alba L.)
Authors
VIERA KUCEROVA and EVA VYBOHOVA

Received July 14, 2017
Published Volume 52 Issue 5-6 May-June
Keywords hot-water pretreatment, willow wood, HPLC, saccharides, bioethanol

Abstract
Liquid hot-water pretreatment is a hydrothermal process that does not require rapid decompression and the addition of any catalyst or chemicals. It allows the removal of hemicelluloses from lignocellulosic materials, which makes the cellulose more accessible to hydrolysis.
In this study, willow wood (Salix alba L.) was subjected to hot-water pretreatment at varying pretreatment times and the temperature of 160 °C. Then, the native willow wood and the hydrolysates were analysed to determine their content of saccharides according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory analytical procedure. It was determined that the native willow wood contained glucose (49.72%), xylose (12.84%), galactose (2.90%), arabinose (2.00%) and mannose (1.87%), which were also found in the hydrolysates. The optimal amount of saccharides in the hydrolysates was found for a pretreatment time of 60 min (at 160 °C).