Effect of Ionic Liquid Pretreatment on the Enzymatic Saccharification of Sugarcane Bagasse

onic liquid, 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([C4mi Cl) was used to pretreat sugarcane bagasse (SCB), followed by regeneration of SCB by addition of deionized water. The regenerated SCB exhibited enhancement in enzymatic saccharification with an average 3.1-fold enhancement in yield of reducing sugar produced compared to untreated SCB in the kinetic study. The maximum yield of glucose and reducing sugar produced were 2.6% and 4.3% respectively for untreated SCB, whereas the maximum yield of glucose and reducing sugar produced were more significant with value of 7.2% and 16.6% respectively for IL-pretreated SCB. This paper suggested that the IL-pretreatment of SCB could be a useful pretreatment method to increase the yield of sugars produced in enzymatic saccharification.