Polyploid Miscanthus Lutarioriparius: A Sustainable and Scalable Biomass Feedstock for Cellulose Nanocrystal Preparation in Biorefinery
Sheng Wang,
Zili Yi,
Yasir Iqbal,
Zhiyong Chen,
Shuai Xue,
Tongcheng Fu,
Meng Li
Affiliations
Sheng Wang
Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm Innovation and Utilization, College of Bioscience & Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
Zili Yi
Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm Innovation and Utilization, College of Bioscience & Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
Yasir Iqbal
Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm Innovation and Utilization, College of Bioscience & Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
Zhiyong Chen
Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm Innovation and Utilization, College of Bioscience & Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
Shuai Xue
Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm Innovation and Utilization, College of Bioscience & Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
Tongcheng Fu
Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm Innovation and Utilization, College of Bioscience & Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
Meng Li
Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm Innovation and Utilization, College of Bioscience & Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
In this study, polyploid Miscanthus lutarioriparius (PML) was introduced as a new sustainable and scalable source for cellulose nanocrystal (CNC). The agronomic traits of PML were significantly different from Miscanthus × giganteus (MG), but their chemical components and physical features were similar. Notably, a remarkable co-extraction of hemicellulose, lignin and ash and non-crystalline cellulose was observed during crude cellulose isolation from PML than it from MG by modified alkaline peroxide pretreatment. In addition, subjecting crude cellulose of PML and MG biomass to sulfuric acid hydrolysis provided high-quality CNC. The analysis of particle size distribution, zeta potential, crystalline index, the degree of polymerization, SEM and yield potential suggested that the CNC extracted from PML showed higher stability, processability and productivity than that from MG. Therefore, it provides a new theoretical basis for the applications of CNC prepared by PML and MG. The results also revealed potential genetic approaches for Miscanthus spp. to enhance biomass and CNC yield.
