Ethanol production from enzymatic hydrolyzates of cellulosic fines and hemicellulose-rich liquors derived from aqueous/steam fractionation of forages
- Univ. Laval, Sainte-Foy, Quebec (Canada). Dept. of Food Science and Nutrition
- Agriculture and Agri-Food, Sainte-Foy, Quebec (Canada)
- Univ. de Sherbrooke, Quebec (Canada). Dept. of Chemical Engineering
This study was aimed at evaluating perennial forages (timothy grass, alfalfa, and reed canary grass) as substrates for ethanol production. Two fractions, derived from the aqueous/steam fractionation of these plants, were used as carbon sources for ethanol production: (1) a solution containing water-soluble hemicelluloses and (2) cellulosic fines recovered after a delignification step. Both fractions were enzymatically hydrolyzed. The hemicellulose-rich fraction was easily saccharified with 90% of theoretical yield. Cellulosic fines were saccharified at 60--70% of theoretical yield. Increasing the delignification of cellulosic fines by alkaline peroxide treatment resulted in higher sugar yields. The glucose-rich hydrolyzate from cellulosic fines was easily fermented to 80--90% of theoretical ethanol yield with Saccharomyces cerevisiae or Pachysolen tannophilus. The pentose-rich hydrolyzate from water-soluble hemicelluloses was fermented to only 20% of theoretical ethanol yield with Pachysolen tannophilus. A lime treatment of the hemicellulose-rich liquors improved cell growth but did not improve ethanol production.
- OSTI ID:
- 564139
- Journal Information:
- Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, Vol. 36, Issue 11; Other Information: PBD: Nov 1997
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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