Abstract
Effects of aqueous ammonia soaking treatments to yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera L.) were investigated to focus on chemical compositional changes and enzymatic hydrolysis characteristics changes by this treatment. Treatment temperature and time were main variables. At 3 different levels of aqueous ammonia soaking temperature and time ($145^{\circ}C$ -1 h, $90^{\circ}C$ -16 h and $45^{\circ}C$ - 6 days), lower temperature and longer soaking time led to more xylan removal based on carbohydrate compositional analysis. However, at higher temperature treatment led to more enzymatic saccharification of cellulose to glucose by commercial cellulose mixtures (Celluclast 1.5L and Novozym 342 from Novozyme, Denmark). Cellulose hydrolysis was gradually increased with increasing enzymatic hydrolysis time but xylan hydrolysis was leveled out at early stage (less than 10 h) of enzymatic hydrolysis.