Wheat Straw Transformed into Abundant Sugars, Unlocking Biofuel Potential
Pretreating wheat straw with chemicals like sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide can make it easier to break down into sugars using enzymes. The best results were seen with sodium hydroxide at high temperature, which removed lignin and allowed for 87.2% of the cellulose to be converted. Sulfuric acid was better at removing hemicellulose. By analyzing the structure of the straw before and after treatment, it was found that the pretreatments broke down the cellulose, making it easier for enzymes to do their job. This study shows that with the right pretreatment, wheat straw can be a great source of sugars for various uses.