Optimizing extrusion pretreatment and big bluestem parameters for enzymatic hydrolysis to produce biofuel using response surface methodology

Abstract

Abstract: Biomass has been identified as alternative renewable energy resource to replace 30% transportation fossil fuel through biofuels by 2.025.  Big bluestem is a warm season native perennial grass warrants attention and studies revealed its potential as energy feedstock.  Extrusion pretreatments employed on big bluestem showed a significant improvement on sugar recovery.  The current study was undertaken to understand and optimize pretreatment conditions such as barrel temperature (45-225