Monosaccharides from industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) woody core pretreatment with ammonium hydroxide soaking treatment followed by enzymatic saccharification

Ammonia soaking treatment was introduced for hemp woody core pretreatment to increase enzymatic saccharification of polysaccharides. Portions of the xylan, cellulose, and lignin were removed by aqueous ammonia soaking, which improved the enzymatic saccharification of cellulose and xylan. Following ammonia soaking, 37% ($50^{\circ}C$-6 day treatment) to 61% ($90^{\circ}C$-16 h treatment) of the cellulose was converted to glucose and 33% ($50^{\circ}C$-6 day treatment) to 48% ($90^{\circ}C$-16 h treatment) of the xylan to xylose. Cellulose responded better to enzymatic saccharification than did xylan after the ammonia soaking treatment. Aqueous ammonia soaking pretreatment was more effective than electron beam irradiation for increasing enzymatic saccharification of xylan and cellulose in hemp woody core.