Preliminary studies on the processing sequence for southern red oak and municipal solid waste using a hybrid dilute acid/ enzymatic hydrolysis process for ethanol production

Based on this preliminary study, a metric ton of dry southern red oak chips subjected to a first-stage dilute sulfuric acid hydrolysis would yield 132 kg of xylose and 40 kg of glucose and mannose. A second-stage dilute sulfuric acid hydrolysis on the first-stage residue would yield only 128 kg of additional glucose, but a second-stage cellulytic enzyme hydrolysis on the first-stage residue would yield an additional 265 kg of glucose. Fermentation of these hydrolyzates would show that the hybrid process would yield over 50% more ethanol. Results on other biomass are also included.