Title:
Optimization of Upstream Processes in Bioethanol Production
Author(s):
Ntihuga, J.N., Senn, T., Gschwind, P., Kohlus, R.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
Important upstream processes in continuous bio-ethanol fermentation were investigated. Optimum mash concentration, mash particle size and enzyme dosage were studied for liquefaction process. Saccharification process was studied by Double Saccharification Principle (DSP). Total starch analysis kit was used to hydrolyze and quantify the nonsolubilised starch for the liquefaction efficiency estimation. Continuous ethanol fermentation was performed in a Blenke cascade system using substrates from the optimized upstream processes. The results show that the mash with small particle sizes (74 µm) is the best at laboratory level. However, our findings may not be applicable for a large scale production. Small particles affect downstream processes. Therefore, in large scale production, the particle size has to be a compromise between yield and minimizing problems in downstream processing. From our results, we recommend the optimum particle size for a large scale production to be a mixture of particles sizes up to 576 µm, the optimum mash solid concentration 25% w/v and enzyme dosage 0.02% (l/kg). Using optimized processes, the volumetric ethanol productivity increased by 13.27% and ethanol yield efficiency increased by 4.07%. This research demonstrated that high ethanol productivity could be achieved using optimized upstream processes.
Keywords:
liquefaction, optimization, double saccharification principle (DSP), continuous fermentation
Topic:
R&D on Processes for Solid, Liquid and Gaseous Fuels from Biomass
Subtopic:
Bioethanol production and sugar release from lignocellulosic
Event:
20th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
3DV.1.34
Pages:
1670 - 1674
ISBN:
978-88-89407-54-7
Paper DOI:
10.5071/20thEUBCE2012-3DV.1.34
Price:
FREE
