Implementation of Auto-Hydrolysis Process for the Recovery of Antioxidants and Cellulose from Wheat Straw

Wheat straw is an easily affordable, cost-effective and natural source of antioxidants and cellulose, but its full potential is not yet utilized. In the present investigation, an auto-hydrolytic process was applied to recover both antioxidant phenolic compounds and cellulose from wheat straw. Two th...

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Main Authors: Andrea Bassani, Cecilia Fiorentini, Vellingiri Vadivel, Alessandro Moncalvo, Giorgia Spigno
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-09-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/17/6112
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author Andrea Bassani
Cecilia Fiorentini
Vellingiri Vadivel
Alessandro Moncalvo
Giorgia Spigno
author_facet Andrea Bassani
Cecilia Fiorentini
Vellingiri Vadivel
Alessandro Moncalvo
Giorgia Spigno
author_sort Andrea Bassani
collection DOAJ
description Wheat straw is an easily affordable, cost-effective and natural source of antioxidants and cellulose, but its full potential is not yet utilized. In the present investigation, an auto-hydrolytic process was applied to recover both antioxidant phenolic compounds and cellulose from wheat straw. Two three-step acid/alkaline fractionation processes were applied differing for the first step: a conventional mild acid hydrolysis or an auto-hydrolysis. The liquors from the first step were analyzed for the recovery of antioxidants, while the final residues from the whole process were analyzed for cellulose yield and purity. The auto-hydrolysis process led to a higher yield in antioxidants but also in sugars (glucose and xylose) and sugar degradation products (5-HMF, 5-MF, furfural) than the acid hydrolysis process. The overall cellulose recovery (about 45% g/100 g<sub>cellulose wheat straw dm</sub>) and purity was comparable in the two processes; therefore, the auto-hydrolysis-based process could be recommended as a potentially more environmentally friendly process to recover antioxidants and cellulose from wheat straw for different applications. Finally, a first study on the optimization of hydrolysis step was provided from the point of view of improving the cellulose yield, monitoring the sugars release during both the acid hydrolysis and the auto-hydrolysis process.
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spelling doaj.art-b1cee0a5b4eb4ce2a9ef6803a5551a7b2023-11-20T12:23:53ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172020-09-011017611210.3390/app10176112Implementation of Auto-Hydrolysis Process for the Recovery of Antioxidants and Cellulose from Wheat StrawAndrea Bassani0Cecilia Fiorentini1Vellingiri Vadivel2Alessandro Moncalvo3Giorgia Spigno4Department for Sustainable Food Process (DiSTAS), Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense 84, 29122 Piacenza, ItalyDepartment for Sustainable Food Process (DiSTAS), Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense 84, 29122 Piacenza, ItalySchool of Chemical and Biotechnology (SCBT/CARISM), SASTRA University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu 613401, IndiaDepartment for Sustainable Food Process (DiSTAS), Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense 84, 29122 Piacenza, ItalyDepartment for Sustainable Food Process (DiSTAS), Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense 84, 29122 Piacenza, ItalyWheat straw is an easily affordable, cost-effective and natural source of antioxidants and cellulose, but its full potential is not yet utilized. In the present investigation, an auto-hydrolytic process was applied to recover both antioxidant phenolic compounds and cellulose from wheat straw. Two three-step acid/alkaline fractionation processes were applied differing for the first step: a conventional mild acid hydrolysis or an auto-hydrolysis. The liquors from the first step were analyzed for the recovery of antioxidants, while the final residues from the whole process were analyzed for cellulose yield and purity. The auto-hydrolysis process led to a higher yield in antioxidants but also in sugars (glucose and xylose) and sugar degradation products (5-HMF, 5-MF, furfural) than the acid hydrolysis process. The overall cellulose recovery (about 45% g/100 g<sub>cellulose wheat straw dm</sub>) and purity was comparable in the two processes; therefore, the auto-hydrolysis-based process could be recommended as a potentially more environmentally friendly process to recover antioxidants and cellulose from wheat straw for different applications. Finally, a first study on the optimization of hydrolysis step was provided from the point of view of improving the cellulose yield, monitoring the sugars release during both the acid hydrolysis and the auto-hydrolysis process.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/17/6112wheat strawauto-hydrolysiscellulosephenolic compoundsantioxidants
spellingShingle Andrea Bassani
Cecilia Fiorentini
Vellingiri Vadivel
Alessandro Moncalvo
Giorgia Spigno
Implementation of Auto-Hydrolysis Process for the Recovery of Antioxidants and Cellulose from Wheat Straw
Applied Sciences
wheat straw
auto-hydrolysis
cellulose
phenolic compounds
antioxidants
title Implementation of Auto-Hydrolysis Process for the Recovery of Antioxidants and Cellulose from Wheat Straw
title_full Implementation of Auto-Hydrolysis Process for the Recovery of Antioxidants and Cellulose from Wheat Straw
title_fullStr Implementation of Auto-Hydrolysis Process for the Recovery of Antioxidants and Cellulose from Wheat Straw
title_full_unstemmed Implementation of Auto-Hydrolysis Process for the Recovery of Antioxidants and Cellulose from Wheat Straw
title_short Implementation of Auto-Hydrolysis Process for the Recovery of Antioxidants and Cellulose from Wheat Straw
title_sort implementation of auto hydrolysis process for the recovery of antioxidants and cellulose from wheat straw
topic wheat straw
auto-hydrolysis
cellulose
phenolic compounds
antioxidants
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/17/6112
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