Upgrading dry acid pretreatment by post-hydrolysis for carbon efficient conversion of lignocellulose.

• Upgrading DAP by post-hydrolysis for carbon efficient conversion of lignocellulose. • A radar chart method was used for the comprehensive evaluation of DAP performance. • One-pot post-hydrolysis and SSF without detoxification and sterilization. • Preserved 45.2 % of original β-O-4 linkages in fractionated lignin. • 66 % of lignocellulose carbon was recovered as ethanol, xylose and reactive lignin. Dry acid pretreatment (DAP) as a promising process for industrial biorefinery provide an efficient bioconversion of cellulose without free wastewater, although the partial xylan and lignin degrade to inhibitors or recondense. A biorefinery strategy for carbon efficient conversion of lignocellulose into bioethanol, xylose, and reactive lignin was developed by upgrading DAP with post-hydrolysis. The results showed that lignocellulose after mild DAP (175 °C, acid dosage of 15 mg/g dry material) obtained higher xylan recovery and lower inhibitors than that of general DAP. Subsequently, post-hydrolysis, simultaneous saccharification and ethanol fermentation were performed at solids loading of 20 wt% without detoxification and sterilization, resulting in xylose and ethanol yield of 71.8 % and 67.6 %. The fractionated lignin presented more reactive β-aryl ether linkages and less condensation than that from DAP. 66 % of lignocellulose carbon was recovered as ethanol, xylose and reactive lignin. This upgrading biorefinery strategy provided an easy-to-operate process for integrated utilization of lignocellulose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]