Kinetic Characterization of Biomass Dilute Sulfuric Acid Hydrolysis: Mixtures of Hardwoods, Softwood, and Switchgrass.

This article discusses a mathematical model depicting pretreatment methods used to homogenize the biomass from which ethanol is derived for fuel purposes. Acid hydrolysis data from single hardwood tree species were combined and used as the basis for this model. The predictions relating to the hydrolysis of woody biomass species with a dilute acid were tested. While the hardwoods tested did not show any synergistic qualities hydrolysis, neither did they display any significant differences in that process. This hydrolysis produces a five carbon sugar known as xylose for fermentation.