Decoupling processability of callose enriched aspen wood: the study of extractability of lignin and carbohydrates during autohydrolysis and kraft pulping

Abstract Development of transgenic lignocellulosic biomass with increased cell wall accessibility could benefit development of resource efficient biorefinery concepts. Transgenic callose enriched aspen, reported to show an increased cell wall mesoporosity including increased cellulose-lignin distance and improved accessibility to enzymatic hydrolysis, has been assessed for its behaviour in industrially relevant decoupling processes: autohydrolysis mediated extraction and kraft pulping (not performed in sequence). Under mild autohydrolysis conditions (130 °C, initial 20 min of extraction) and during initial mild phase of kraft pulping (10–20 min) this modification indeed led to a modestly but consistently enhanced extractability of wood components of slightly higher molar mass. These results point out the potential of the callose enriched wood for new prospects of mild resource efficient biorefining.