Separation of polysaccharides from rice husk and wheat bran using solvent system consisting of BMIMOAc and DMI

A solvent system consisting of 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone (DMI), and ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate (BMIMOAc) was used to separate polysaccharides from rice husk and wheat bran. The effects of the DMI/BMIMOAc ratios, temperature, and time on the dissolution of rice husk and wheat bran were investigated, and the influence of anti-solvents on the regeneration of polysaccharidesrich material was evaluated. We found that the solvent system is more powerful to dissolve rice husk and wheat bran than pure BMIMOAc, and that polysaccharides-rich material can be effectively separated from the biomass solution. The polysaccharides content of regenerated material from wheat bran can reach as high as 94.4% when ethanol was used as anti-solvents. Under optimized conditions, the extraction rate of polysaccharides for wheat bran can reach as high as 71.8% at merely 50 degrees C. The recycled solvent system exhibited constant ability to separate polysaccharides from rice husk and wheat bran. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.