Resumo

FERRER, J. R. et al. Kinetics of the acid hydrolysis of sugar cane bagasse pith. Rev. Fac. Agron. [online]. 2002, vol.19, n.1, pp.23-33. ISSN 0378-7818.

The production of reductive sugars (AR) through acid hydrolysis of sugar cane bagasse was performed in order to study reducing sugar production, because they represent a basic carbohydrate source in biotechnological processes for single cell protein and organic compound production. The study involved hydrolysis of treated (BT) and non-treated (BNT) bagasse pith immersed in water at environmental temperatures through reflux boiling with different concentrations of diluted sulphuric acid (2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, v/v) with different reaction times (TR) (4, 8 and 12 hrs) in a liquid/solid ratio of 30/1. Reducing sugars concentrations (AR) were determined by UV-Vis spectrum-photometry using the 3.5 dinitrosalisilic acid method. The experiment utilized a factorial arrangement (2 x 3 x 4) in a completely random design with three replicates. Variance analysis was performed with Statistical Analysis System (SAS) using the Tukey HDS method for main effects and the minimum squares method for interactions . The results showed that all the factors significantly affected the AR concentration (P<0,01) except the interaction (TA x TR). The greatest AR concentration was (16.76 ± 1.71 g/L) when using bagasse pith without aqueous treatment, with a 6 % sulfuric acid solution and 4 hours of reaction time. AR concentration varied between 2.58 and 20.45 g/L, with an general average of 10.53 g/L.

Palavras-chave : Acid hydrolysis; bagasse pith; sugar cane; sugar; lignocellulosic material.