Chemicals from biomass by improved enzyme technology

Conference · Thu Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1979 · Prepr., Div. Pet. Chem., Am. Chem. Soc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5952839

Emert, G H ^[1]; Katzen, R

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1. Gulf Oil Chemicals Co., Shawnee Mission, KS

A two part article, Cellulose to Ethanol Process and Technical and Economic Evaluation, is presented. Bioconversion technology included to remove or decrease the volume of solid waste and to provide ethyl alcohol and other chemicals which can be utilized to supplant fossil fuel sources as a feedstock. The cellulose to ethanol process included: feedstock handling and pretreatment, enzyme production, yeast production, simultaneous saccharification fermentation (SSF), and ethanol recovery. With respect to conversion to ethanol or other chemicals, three factors must be considered regarding the susceptibility of native cellulose to biodegradation, its insolubility in water, extent of liquefaction, and crystallinity. A detailed study was made of the technical and economic feasibility of the process. The technical feasibility was demonstrated by research work carried out at the Gulf Oil Chemicals Company. The commercial process, based on producing 25 MM gallons per year alcohol, showed a more favorable selling price than grain fermentation and synthetic alcohols with 100% investor equity capital financing. With municipal bond financing, cellulosic waste alcohol yielded much greater profitability or much lower selling prices to obtain a 15% return on investor equity. 6 figures, 3 tables.

• OSTI ID: 5952839
• Report Number(s): CONF-790415-P4
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Prepr., Div. Pet. Chem., Am. Chem. Soc.; (United States) Journal Volume: 24:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
090222 -- Alcohol Fuels-- Preparation from Wastes or Biomass-- (1976-1989)
14 SOLAR ENERGY
140505* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photochemical
Photobiological
& Thermochemical Conversion-- (1980-)
ALCOHOLS
BIOCONVERSION
BIODEGRADATION
BIOMASS
BIOSYNTHESIS
CARBOHYDRATES
CELLULOSE
CHEMICAL FEEDSTOCKS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CRYSTALLIZATION
DECOMPOSITION
ECONOMIC IMPACT
ENERGY SOURCES
ENZYMES
ETHANOL
FERMENTATION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
FUNGI
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
LIGNIN
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PLANTS
POLYSACCHARIDES
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SACCHARIDES
SYNTHESIS
WATER
YEASTS