Research on the Separation and Valorization of Lignocellulosic Components from Distiller’s Grains

The high proportion of lignocellulose in distiller’s grains plays a significant role in their resource utilization. In this study, the distiller’s grains were pretreated, and cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin were extracted and separated using an ethanol-alkali cooking method. The black liquor obtained after lignin separation was utilized for electrocatalytic hydrogen production, demonstrating high proton transfer efficiency at a relatively low voltage. The extracted cellulose and lignin were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), confirming their high yield and purity.Throhgh the procedure, this study achieved comprehensive high-value utilization of distiller’s grains without secondary pollutants.