Citation

Yu, N., Yin, F.-S., Hwang, A.-L., Hao, P. L. C., Wang, S.-D., and Y.-L. Yeh, Hydrolysis of rice straw and rice husk to pentoses and the production of acetic acid. Journal of The Chinese Institute of Chemical Engineers 12: 127-140, 1981.

Abstract

The agricultural cellulosic wastes amount to six million tons per year in Taiwan. Among them, rice straw and rice husk total some 3.2 million. Their potential importance as a source of fermentable sugars has attracted increasing interest worldwide. At UIRL, we have demonstrated successfully that the hemicellulose component of rice straw and rice husk can be quantitatively hydrolyzed to pentoses with 1-2% sulfuric acid at elevated temperature. This pentose solution is constituted mainly of xylose, arabinose and glucose as determined by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). It is then fermented to produce acetic acid by an anaerobic, thermophilic strain of Clostridium thermoaceticum.

Country, State, District, etc.

Taiwan

Language

English

Material

rice straw, rice husk

Use category

ethanol production, chemical production