Selective solvent delignification for fermentation enhancement
Cellulose and hemicellulose in renewable biomass resources such as cornstover and wheat straw have been examined as substrates for the production of ethanol. A mixed culture of selected strains of Clostridium thermocellum and Clostridium thermosaccharolyticum are used to accomplish both the hydrolysis and fermentation of these carbohydrates in a single step. However, lignin and related phenolic materials are shown to diminsh the rate, extent, and yield at which these carbohydrates can be utilized for ethanol production. In order to overcome this problem, a selective solvent pretreatment with alkaline-ethanol-water mixtures was examined for the delignification of cellulosic biomass under conditions where very little loss of fermentable carbohydrates results. Under optimal conditions, up to 67% of the initial lignin in cornstover can be extraced while 95% of the alpha cellulose and pentosan carbohydrates remain insoluble. Subsequent mixed culture fermentation of the treated material has shown a 400% increase in the rate of degradation and greater than 85% utilization of substrate. The effects of various extraction parameters on delignification kinetics and subsequent fermentation performance are discussed. (Refs. 17).
- Research Organization:
- Dept. of Nutrition and Food Science, Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Cambridge, MA 02139
- OSTI ID:
- 5334174
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-810813-
- Journal Information:
- Biotechnol. Bioeng.; (United States), Vol. 25:1; Conference: National American Chemical Society summer meeting, New York, NY, USA, 23 Aug 1981
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
CELLULOSE
DELIGNIFICATION
CLOSTRIDIUM THERMOCELLUM
CLOSTRIDIUM THERMOSACCHAROLYTICUM
ENZYMATIC HYDROLYSIS
ETHANOL
FERMENTATION
HEMICELLULOSE
REACTION KINETICS
SOLVENTS
STRAW
ALCOHOLS
BACTERIA
BIOCONVERSION
CARBOHYDRATES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CLOSTRIDIUM
DECOMPOSITION
HYDROLYSIS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
KINETICS
LYSIS
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLYSACCHARIDES
SACCHARIDES
SOLVOLYSIS
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