Deep eutectic solvent pretreatment for enhanced enzymatic hydrolysis of pineapple biomass via Response Surface Methodology

This study highlights the potential of utilizing deep eutectic solvents (DESs) in the pretreatment of pineapple peel (PP) to enhance cellulose conversion. Six different DESs were initially screened to identify the most ideal solvent for PP pretreatment. Choline chloride-oxalic acid (CC-OA) was found to be the most efficient, facilitating significant improvements in cellulose recovery, hemicellulose removal, and lignin degradation. Enhancement of pretreatment conditions was performed using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) with a Box-Behnken design, focusing on variables such as temperature (60–100 °C), time (1–3 h), and solid loading (4–6%). The optimal conditions for CC-OA pretreatment were identified at 99.65 °C for 62 min with a solid loading of 5.79%, achieving the highest cellulose conversion rate of 90.53%. This study highlights the potential of DES for lignocellulosic biomass processing and underscores the necessity of tailoring pretreatment conditions to specific biomass types. Further research is recommended to refine the use of DES in biomass conversion, aiming to improve efficiency and sustainability in lignocellulosic biomass processing.