This study is the first one ever to report on the use of high fiber sugarcane (a.k.a. energy cane) bagasse as
feedstock for the production of cellulosic ethanol. Energy cane bagasse was pretreated with ammonium
hydroxide (28% v/v solution), and water at a ratio of 1:0.5:8 at 160 C for 1 h under 0.9–1.1 MPa. Approximately,
55% lignin, 30% hemicellulose, 9% cellulose, and 6% other (e.g., ash, proteins) were removed during
the process. The maximum glucan conversion of dilute ammonia treated energy cane bagasse by
cellulases was 87% with an ethanol yield (glucose only) of 23 g ethanol/100 g dry biomass. The enzymatic
digestibility was related to the removal of lignin and hemicellulose, perhaps due to increased surface area
and porosity resulting in the deformation and swelling of exposed fibers as shown in the SEM pictures.