Ultrastructural changes associated with different pretreatments on napier grass

dc.contributor.author LeRoy, Majdouline Idzine
dc.date.accessioned 2016-02-19T22:51:38Z
dc.date.available 2016-02-19T22:51:38Z
dc.date.issued 2012-12
dc.description M.S. University of Hawaii at Manoa 2012.
dc.description Includes bibliographical references.
dc.description.abstract In response to concerns over growing energy demands and depleting resources, renewable fuels derived from second generation lignocellulosic biomass have the potential to replace non-renewable, fossil fuels. Optimizing the process of converting biomass to monomeric sugars, the precursor of most biofuels, is limited by two primary factors: (1) the inefficiency of enzymes that hydrolyze cellulose into monomeric sugars; and (2) the recalcitrant structures (and limited exposure of cellulose to cellulolytic enzymes). The aim of this study was to investigate the ultrastructure of the biomass and the morphological changes that occur after pretreatment. Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) was investigated under the following pretreatment strategies: dilute acid hydrolysis, sonication and the combination of both acid and sonication, and was visualized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). A structurally supportive sclerenchyma cell naturally has a higher lignin (an enzyme inhibitor) content than a parenchyma cell. Results revealed increased lignin deposition on sclerenchyma cells than on parenchyma cells by a range of 10-20%. Lignin deposition greater than 40% at the bottom of the cell indicated unfavorably low sugar yields.
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/10125/100864
dc.language.iso eng
dc.publisher [Honolulu] : [University of Hawaii at Manoa], [December 2012]
dc.relation Theses for the degree of Master of Science (University of Hawaii at Manoa). Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering.
dc.subject napier grass
dc.subject dilute acid pretreatment
dc.subject ultrasound pretreatment
dc.subject microscopy
dc.subject ultrastructure
dc.title Ultrastructural changes associated with different pretreatments on napier grass
dc.type Thesis
dc.type.dcmi Text
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