Comparative Analysis of Sulphuric Acid (H2SO4) and Ammonium Hydroxide 1.0 (NH4OH) Concentrations on the Release of Cellulose from Isolated Cell Wall Component of Corn Husk and Corn Cob

Abstract

The scarcity and high price associated with fossil fuel has motivated countries to research resources for alternative energy sources. Biofuels like bioethanol produced from lignocellulosic biomass (corn cob and corn husk) are considered potential alternatives. Cellulose composition from isolated cell wall material of corn cobs and corn husk were studied under two different pre-treatments using H2SO4 and NH4OH at concentrations of 5%, 10%, 20%, 30% and 40%. Cell wall not treated acted as control. Colorimetric anthrone-assay followed by absorbance reading at 625nm revealed the presence of fermentable sugar (glucose) in corn cob (19.30µg/ml) and corn husk (17.25µg/ml) with corn cob showing more cellulose content. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated
significant differences between pre-treated samples and untreated (control) corn cob samples at p≤0.05. Acid pretreatment showed better glucose yield compared to alkali pre-treatment with results revealing 20% (19.37µg/ml) H2SO4 to be the optimal concentration producing highest glucose yield. Results for corn husk showed a pattern of increased yields with pre-treatment. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed significant difference at p≤0.05 between treated and control samples for both sulphuric acid and alkaline pre-treatment of corn husk. Alkalinebased pre-treatment slightly favoured more glucose yield in corn husk compared to acid-based pre-treatment with optimum yields obtained at 40%; 19.00µg/ml and 18.77µg/ml respectively. The study reveals the potential of corn
cob and corn husk as a lignocellulosic feed stock for biofuel production.