Calculating sugar yields in high solids hydrolysis of biomass

Calculation of true sugar yields in high solids enzymatic hydrolysis of biomass is challenging due to the varying liquid density and liquid volume resulting from solid solubilization. Ignoring these changes in yield calculations can lead to significant errors. In this paper, a mathematical method was developed for the estimation of liquid volume change and thereafter the sugar yield. The information needed in the calculations include the compositions of the substrate, initial solids loading, initial liquid density, and sugar concentrations before and after hydrolysis. All of these variables are measurable with conventional laboratory procedures. This method was validated experimentally for enzymatic hydrolysis of dilute sulfuric acid pretreated corn stover at solid loadings up to 23% (w/w). The maximum relative error of predicted glucose yield from the true value was less than 4%. Compared to other methods reported in the literature, this method is relatively easy to use and provides good accuracy.