PHP (phosphoric acid-hydrogen peroxide) pretreatment for efficiently deconstructing lignocellulose with...

Lignocellulosic biomass, such as wheat straw (WS), is a renewable resource, but its rigid, recalcitrant structure limits the conversion of carbohydrates into value-added products. Here, a one-step phosphoric acid-hydrogen peroxide (PHP) pretreatment strategy was reported for efficient lignocellulose deconstruction, coupled with the utilization of self-generated oxidative off-gas for organic pollutant degradation in wastewater. The constrained response surface methodology (RSM) optimization predicted a glucose yield of 33.77 g per 100 g WS and a methylene blue (MB) degradation efficiency of 96.02 %. Two parallel validation experiments under the same optimum conditions gave glucose yields of 32.37 to 32.40 g per 100 g WS and MB degradation efficiencies of 94.81 to 96.84 %. The approach was also effective for other agricultural residues, including corn cobs and cotton stalks, and for degrading several organic pollutants, including sulfamethoxazole, achieving degradation efficiencies above 97 %. Mechanistic analysis indicated that self-heating during PHP pretreatment promoted the in situ formation of peracetic acid (PAA), which was then thermally activated to generate hydroxyl radicals (·OH), thereby driving rapid pollutant degradation. Overall, this one-step PHP pretreatment integrates sugar production with off-gas-driven wastewater remediation, providing a promising strategy for sustainable lignocellulosic biorefining.