Ethanol from cellulosics
The current major research and development effort in the U.S. to improve technology for the conversion of cellulosic waste is justified by the potential utilization of hundreds of millions of tons per year of agricultural and forest wastes. Cellulose must first be hydrolyzed to hexose monosacharides (mainly glucose) before it can be fermented to ethanol. Although many hydrolysis processes have been investigated, only hydrolysis using dilute mineral acid has been commercialized. In the reported experiments, an ethanol-from-cellulose process simulation was developed for implementation on an IBM 5120 computer, utilizing APL computer language. The model calculates material balances, utility balances and factored capital costs for the entire process, starting with any cellulosic feedstock and producing anhydrous ethanol and other by-products. Data are presented which demonstrate that prehydrolysis is the most useful pretreatment. It can accomplish virtually the same physical changes as steam explosion, while also performing a mild hydrolysis on accessible cellulose. Yields are higher with this step than without, and formation of by-product HMF and furfural is minimized.
- Research Organization:
- Chem Syst Inc, Tarrytown, NY, USA
- OSTI ID:
- 6399097
- Journal Information:
- Chem. Eng. Prog.; (United States), Journal Name: Chem. Eng. Prog.; (United States) Vol. 78:8; ISSN CEPRA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
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AGRICULTURAL WASTES
ALCOHOLS
ALDEHYDES
BIOCONVERSION
CARBOHYDRATES
CELLULOSE
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DECOMPOSITION
ECONOMICS
ETHANOL
FERMENTATION
GLUCOSE
HEXOSES
HYDROLYSIS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
LIGNIN
LYSIS
MONOSACCHARIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC WASTES
POLYSACCHARIDES
PRODUCTION
SACCHARIDES
SIMULATION
SOLID WASTES
SOLVOLYSIS
WASTE PRODUCT UTILIZATION
WASTES
WOOD WASTES