Sugar production from lignocellulosic materials by gamma photolysis

Lignocellulosic plant materials were treated with swelling agent and exposed to gamma radiation from Cobalt 60 or Cesium 137. The swelling agents include NaOH, KOH, NH4OH, Benzyle trimethyl ammonium hydroxide, ZnCl2, CaCO3, H3PO4, and H2SO4. At 50 Mrads or above the lignocellulosic materials were extensively solubilized and formed a thick paste or liquid, depending upon the amount of liquid used. The brownish dark hydrolysate had a sweet molasses like odor. Complete solubilization has been acheived for samples such as sugarcane bagasse, newspaper, cotton linter, cotton clothes, saw dust, and alpha cellulose powder. About 40% total sugar and 7% reducing sugar per dry weight of sugarcane bagasse was obtained. The majority of the soluble carbohydrate seemed to be disaccharides or larger molecules. Solubilization of cellulose was dosage dependent, and the rate was facilitated by alkali. However, the released sugar was further decomposed by the alkali