open access publication

Article, 2023

Recovery and characterization of cellulosic ethanol from fermentation of sugarcane bagasse

Chemical Engineering Research and Design, ISSN 1744-3563, 0263-8762, Volume 196, Pages 568-576, 10.1016/j.cherd.2023.06.053

Contributors

Yamakawa, Celina Kiyomi 0000-0003-2394-0364 (Corresponding author) [1] Rojas, Sebastian T. [2] Herrera, William E. [3] Rossell, Carlos E V [3] Maciel, Maria Regina Wolf [3] Filho, Rubens Maciel 0000-0001-6511-7283 [3]

Affiliations

  1. [1] Technical University of Denmark
    2. [NORA names: DTU Technical University of Denmark; University; Denmark; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD];
  2. [2] Goethe University Frankfurt
    3. [NORA names: Germany; Europe, EU; OECD];
  3. [3] State University of Campinas
    4. [NORA names: Brazil; America, South]

Abstract

Industrial production of ethanol by fermentation using renewable feedstock such as sugarcane stalks has been demonstrated as a sustainable fuel chain in Brazil. This work focused on the production of cellulosic ethanol from sugarcane bagasse in a pilot scale unit by applying the current bioprocessing strategies with the aim of recovering and characterizing the end products. The feedstock was pretreated at 190 °C and a residence time of 10 min. Enzymatic hydrolysis was performed with commercial cellulolytic enzymes. Fermentation’s substrates were formulated with hydrolysate and supplemented with 8%wt sugarcane molasses. The fermentations were set up to mimic the conventional industrial fermentation in Brazil’s ethanol distilleries at high cell density with cell recycling. The fermentation resulted in a reproducible performance by the yield of 0.49 g/g, productivity of 6.96 g/(L∙h), and cell viability of 95.3%. Ethanol was recovered in a lab-scale distillation batch system. Distilled fractions showed higher content of higher alcohols and sulfur content than the standard specification of ANP (National Agency of Petroleum - Brazilian Agency) for ethanol fuel. The distillation bottom product (vinasse) presented most characteristics suitable for fertilizer or biogas applications, except for sodium and sulfate content. Therefore, for a successful technology, transference processing adjustments should be made to make the product commercially suitable and the side stream compatible for disposal as fertilizer or digestion for biogas production.

Keywords

ANP, Brazil, adjustment, alcohol, applications, bagasse, batch system, biogas, biogas applications, biogas production, bioprocess, bioprocessing strategies, bottoms product, cell density, cell recycling, cell viability, cells, cellulolytic enzymes, cellulosic ethanol, chain, characteristics, characterization, content, content of higher alcohols, density, digestion, disposal, distillate fractions, distillation, distillery, enzymatic hydrolysis, enzyme, ethanol, ethanol distillery, ethanol fuel, feedstock, fermentation, fermentation of sugarcane bagasse, fermentation substrate, fertility, fraction, fuel, fuel chain, high cell density, higher alcohols, hydrolysate, hydrolysis, industrial fermentation, industrial production, industrial production of ethanol, molasses, performance, pilot, pilot scale unit, process adjustment, production, production of cellulosic ethanol, production of ethanol, recovery, recycling, renewable feedstocks, residence time, residents, scale unit, side, side streams, sodium, stalk, standard specifications, strategies, stream, substrate, sugarcane, sugarcane bagasse, sugarcane molasses, sugarcane stalks, sulfate, sulfate content, sulfur, sulfur content, system, technology, time, transfer, units, viability, vinasse, yield

Funders

  • São Paulo Research Foundation

Data Provider: Digital Science

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