Title:
Simulation and Optimisation of Wheat Straw Autohydrolysis to Fermentable Sugars for Bio-ethanol Production
Author(s):
Sidiras, D.K.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
In this work, the autohydrolysis of wheat straw undertaken in a batch reactor system is presented. This kind of hydrolysis is auto-catalyzed by acids produced from the wheat straw itself during the process. The experimental data and reaction kinetic analysis indicate that this is a potential mechanism for cellulose and hemicelluloses hydrolysis, due to a rapid hydrolysis intermediate reaction without using any acid in the case that the reaction ending temperature is adequately high. It was found that significant sugar degradation occurred under these conditions, giving an optimal yield in total fermentable sugars. The kinetics of autohydrolysis of cellulose and hemicelluloses were simulated using a new kinetic model where the increasing concentration of the acids produced within the complex network of reactions is also taken into account. The temperature profile and the pH profile during the process were also studied. The reaction rate constants were calculated according to this new model using nonlinear regression analysis. Process parameters investigated herein include variation in reaction ending temperature and reaction time. The sugars produced by the autohydrolysis reaction, principally xylose and glucose, are intended for fermentation in bio-ethanol production.
Keywords:
bioethanol, hydrolysis, straw, sugar, wheat
Topic:
Fuels from biomass
Subtopic:
Technologies and demonstration of second generation biofuels
Event:
18th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
VP3.5.10
Pages:
1851 - 1854
ISBN-13:
978-88-89407-56-1
ISBN-10:
88-89407-56-5
Paper DOI:
10.5071/18thEUBCE2010-VP3.5.10
Price:
FREE
