2.2. Lignocellulosic material and pretreatment
Corncob obtained locally was air-dried and ground to particles of about 2 mm in diameter. One percent H2SO4 was added at a solid-to-liquid ratio of 1:6. The mixture was pretreated at 108 °C for 3 h and then filtered. The cellulosic residue was washed to pH 4.8 with water and dried, and had the following composition: cellulose 59.4%, hemicellulose 6.5%, lignin 22.2%, and others 11.9%.