To make full utilization of raw material and achieve high concentration of sugars in the hydrolysate of biomass, microcrystalline cellulose andJatropha hullswere pretreated by IL1-butyl-3-methylimidazoliuma chloride ([BMIM]Cl) before their subsequent dilute sulfuric acid hydrolysis.Compared with original cellulose, after IL-pretreatment, both the yield and concentration of reducing-sugars increased by 139%, and the water-soluble products yield increased by 128% after hydrolysis. Compared with water-washed Jatropha hulls, after IL-pretreatment, the yield and concentration of reducing-sugars increased by 80% and 76%, respectively, and the water-soluble products yield increased by 70% after hydrolysis. IL-pretreatment benefited the fermentation ofJatrophahull hydrolysate with 66.58% diol yield and its productivity increased from 0.35 to 0.40 g/(L · h).

The research work entitled “Production of 2,3-butanediol from cellulose andJatrophahulls after ionic liquid pretreatment and dilute-acid hydrolysis” was published inAMB express.