Enhanced saccharification kinetics of sugarcane bagasse pretreated in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride at high temperature and without complete dissolution

Dissolution of bagasse with 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride at high temperatures (110–160 °C) is investigated as a pretreatment process for saccharification and fermentation based biofuel production. Material balances are reported and used along with enzymatic saccharification data to identify optimum pretreatment conditions (150 °C for 90 min). At all pretreatment temperatures, dissolved and reprecipitated material is enriched in cellulose, has a low crystallinity and the cellulose component is easily and quantitatively hydrolysed (100%, 3 h, 15 FPU). At pretreatment temperatures ⩽ 150 °C, the undissolved material has only slightly lower crystallinity than the starting. At pretreatment temperatures ⩾ 150 °C, the undissolved material has low crystallinity and when combined with the dissolved material has a saccharification rate and extent similar to completely dissolved material. Complete dissolution is not necessary to maximise saccharification efficiency at temperatures ⩾ 150 °C.