Title:
Utilization of switchgrass as a biofuel feedstock

dc.contributor.advisor Ragauskas, Arthur J.
dc.contributor.author Hu, Zhoujian en_US
dc.contributor.committeeMember Collard, David M.
dc.contributor.committeeMember Jeffery S. Hsieh
dc.contributor.committeeMember Wendy L. Kelly
dc.contributor.committeeMember Yulin Deng
dc.contributor.department Chemistry and Biochemistry en_US
dc.date.accessioned 2012-06-25T18:40:53Z
dc.date.available 2012-06-25T18:40:53Z
dc.date.issued 2012-05
dc.description.abstract Secondary generation biofuels such as cellulosic biofuels rely on large portions of cellulosic bioresources, which may include forests, perennial grasses, wood and agricultural residues. Switchgrass is one promising feedstock for biofuel production. In the present study, thesis work focused on the chemical and structural profiles and hydrothermal pretreatment of switchgrass. Four populations of switchgrass were investigated for their chemical properties among populations and morphological portions, including the compositions of lignin and carbohydrates, extractives content, higher heating value (HHV), and syringyl:guaiacyl (S:G) ratio. The results demonstrate similar chemical profiles and lignin structure among the four populations of switchgrass. Morphological fractions of switchgrass including leaves, internodes, and nodes differ significantly in chemical profiles and S:G ratios of lignin. The structure of isolated cellulose from switchgrass SW9 is similar between leaves and internodes. The structure of isolated lignin from leaves and internodes of switchgrass SW9 differs in S:G ratio and molecular weight. Hydrothermal pretreatment of leaves and internodes indicates that a similar chemical composition and chemical structure for pretreated leaves and internodes. The degree of polymerization (DP) for cellulose of the pretreated internodes is 23.4% greater than that of the pretreated leaves. The accessibility of pretreated leaves measured by Simons' Staining technique is greater than that of pretreated internodes. Pretreated leaves have a 32.5-33.8% greater cellulose-to-glucose conversion yield than do pretreated internodes. en_US
dc.description.degree Ph.D. en_US
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/1853/44088
dc.language.iso en_US en_US
dc.publisher Georgia Institute of Technology en_US
dc.subject Switchgrass en_US
dc.subject Cellulose en_US
dc.subject Lignin en_US
dc.subject Morphological portions en_US
dc.subject Chemical compositions en_US
dc.subject Hydrothermal pretreatment en_US
dc.subject.lcsh Switchgrass
dc.subject.lcsh Biomass energy
dc.subject.lcsh Feedstock
dc.subject.lcsh Hydrothermal alteration
dc.subject.lcsh Ethanol as fuel
dc.title Utilization of switchgrass as a biofuel feedstock en_US
dc.type Text
dc.type.genre Dissertation
dspace.entity.type Publication
local.contributor.corporatename School of Chemistry and Biochemistry
local.contributor.corporatename College of Sciences
relation.isOrgUnitOfPublication f1725b93-3ab8-4c47-a4c3-3596c03d6f1e
relation.isOrgUnitOfPublication 85042be6-2d68-4e07-b384-e1f908fae48a
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