High-temperature acid hydrolysis of cellulose for alcohol fuel production
Parametric analyses of high-temperature, dilute-acid hydrolysis of cellulose were carried out to determine the effect of hydrolysis parameters and processing schemes on the selling price of ethanol, and to estimate the potential economics of such processes. Analyses were conducted using a simulation model that calculates mass and energy balances, estimates the capital cost of the plant, and determines the selling price of ethanol. All plants were designed to produce 50 million gallons per year from either a corn stover or aspen wood feedstock. The feedstock was subjected to prehydrolysis and hydrolysis to convert the cellulosic components to sugars. The sugars stream was neutralized and fermented, and the ethanol was purified by distillation. Approximately half of the selling price of ethanol is due to capital-related charges and half to operating costs (primarily feedstock costs). The solids content of the processing streams is the most important processing parameter. Xylose fermentation has the potential to further reduce the cost of ethanol by 30%. Sales of furfural and lignin by-products could significantly reduce the selling price of ethanol if markets are available. The price of ethanol was not greatly affected by prehydrolysis, unreacted solids recycle, or small changes in hydrolysis conditions. The predicted selling price of $1.50/gallon, while subject to an uncertainty of approximately +- 30%, is of the same magnitude as that for ethanol produced from corn or petrochemical feedstocks.
- Research Organization:
- Solar Energy Research Inst., Golden, CO (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-77CH00178
- OSTI ID:
- 5878870
- Report Number(s):
- SERI/TR-231-1714; ON: DE83009109
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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ACID HYDROLYSIS
ALCOHOL FUELS
ALCOHOLS
ALDEHYDES
BIOCONVERSION
BY-PRODUCTS
CAPITALIZED COST
CARBOHYDRATES
CELLULOSE
CEREALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COST
DECOMPOSITION
ENERGY
ENERGY ANALYSIS
ETHANOL
ETHANOL FUELS
ETHANOL PLANTS
FERMENTATION
FUELS
FURANS
FURFURAL
GRAMINEAE
GRASS
HEAT TREATMENTS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HIGH TEMPERATURE
HYDROLYSIS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
LIGNIN
LYSIS
MAIZE
NET ENERGY
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARAMETRIC ANALYSIS
PLANTS
POLYSACCHARIDES
PRICES
PRODUCTION
SACCHARIDES
SOLVOLYSIS
SYNTHETIC FUELS
WOOD