The effect of metal ions as co-catalysts on acidic ionic liquid catalyzed single-step saccharification of corn stover in water

Abstract

The effects of adding Cr(3+), Mn(2+), Fe(3+), Co(2+) Ni(2+), Cu(2+), Zn(2+) and La(3+) chlorides as co-catalysts to 1-(1-propylsulfonic)-3-methylimidazolium chloride acidic ionic liquid catalyzed saccharification of corn stover in aqueous medium was studied at 140-170 °C, by measuring the total reducing sugar (TRS) and glucose yields. The samples with Mn(2+), Fe(3+), Co(2+) as co-catalysts produced higher TRS yields compared to the sample without the metal ions. The Mn(2+) produced the highest catalytic effect enhancements and produced TRS yields of 68.0%, 72.9%, 90.2% and 87.9% at 140, 150, 160 and 170 °C respectively; whereas the corn stover samples without the Mn(2+) produced TRS yields of 42.9%, 52.3%, 54.4% and 53.5% at the same four temperatures. At higher temperatures of 160 and 170 °C, all metal ions studied produced significant enhancements in glucose yields, except Cr(3+). The addition of La(3+) as a co-catalyst produced the highest glucose yield improvement.

Keywords: Acidic ionic liquid; Co-catalyst; Corn stover; Metal ions; Total reducing sugars.