Agave proves to be a low recalcitrant lignocellulosic feedstock for biofuels production on semi-arid lands.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Agave, which is well known for tequila and other liquor production in Mexico, has recently gained attention because of its attractive potential to launch sustainable bioenergy feedstock solutions for semi-arid and arid lands. It was previously found that agave cell walls contain low lignin and relatively diverse non-cellulosic polysaccharides, suggesting unique recalcitrant features when compared to conventional C4 and C3 plants.

Results

Here, we report sugar release data from fungal enzymatic hydrolysis of non-pretreated and hydrothermally pretreated biomass that shows agave to be much less recalcitrant to deconstruction than poplar or switchgrass. In fact, non-pretreated agave has a sugar release five to eight times greater than that of poplar wood and switchgra

SUBMITTER: Li H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4022320 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature