Wheat Straw Pretreatment Unlocks Biofuel Potential, Boosts Sustainability
The study aimed to find the best way to break down wheat straw using different organic acids. They tested maleic, succinic, and oxalic acid at various temperatures, acid concentrations, and times. Maleic and oxalic acid worked well, giving over 90% sugar yields, while succinic acid was less effective, with only 50-60% yields. The best conditions for each acid were found: for maleic acid, 210°C, 1.08% acid, and 19.8 min; for succinic acid, 210°C, 5% acid, and 30 min; for oxalic acid, 210°C, 3.6% acid, and 16.3 min. Ethanol yields were highest with maleic acid at 80%, followed by oxalic acid at 79%, and succinic acid at 59%.