Continuous cellulose-to-glucose process

Journal Article · Mon Oct 08 04:00:00 EDT 1979 · Chem. Eng. News; (United States)

OSTI ID:6416136

Brenner, W ^[1]; Rogers, C; Srinivasan, V R

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1. N.Y. Univ.

A continuous cellulose-to-glucose process has been developed by W. Brenner at New York University as part of an EPA project for conversion of solid wastes to fuels; the technology could help improve the economics of fermentation of wood, paper, and agricultural and municipal wastes to ethanol for gasohol. A 1 ton/day demonstration plant has been built and is operating on sawdust and pulped newspaper. It uses a twin-screw extruder of the type used in plastics processing to slurry the cram-fed cellulosic feed. Dilute sulfuric acid is added near the outlet of the extruder to hydrolyze the cellulose, which is heated by steam to 450/sup 0/F, to glucose in up to 60% yield; the low residence time minimizes acid-catalyzed degradation. Energy consumption is 1600 Btu/lb cellulose, but this could be reduced by insulating the extruder barrel and quenching the reaction mixture in a heat exchanger. According to C. Rogers (EPA), this technology could produce ethanol by fermentation for $0.85-$1.00/gal, of which $0.60/gal would be for cellulose hydrolysis at mobile plants in the field, with the glucose syrup transported to local fermentation plants. V. R. Srinivasan (La. State Univ.) is studying continuous fermentation of the glucose syrup to methane.

• OSTI ID: 6416136
• Journal Information: Chem. Eng. News; (United States), Journal Name: Chem. Eng. News; (United States) Vol. 57:41; ISSN CENEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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ACID HYDROLYSIS
ALCOHOLS
ALDEHYDES
CARBOHYDRATES
CELLULOSE
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
DEMONSTRATION PLANTS
ECONOMICS
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ETHANOL
FUELS
GLUCOSE
HEXOSES
HYDROLYSIS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
LYSIS
MONOSACCHARIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLYSACCHARIDES
PRODUCTION
REFUSE DERIVED FUELS
SACCHARIDES
SOLID WASTES
SOLVOLYSIS
SYNTHESIS
WASTES