Tag Archives: E¹0

173-182 K. Eisenhuber, A. Jäger, J. Wimberger and H. Kahr
Comparison of different pretreatment methods for straw for lignocellulosic bioethanol production
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Comparison of different pretreatment methods for straw for lignocellulosic bioethanol production

K. Eisenhuber, A. Jäger*, J. Wimberger and H. Kahr

University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, Stelzhamerstr 23, A 4600 Wels, Austria;
*Correspondence: Alexander.Jaeger@fh-wels.at

Abstract:

In order to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels, the production  of  biofuels  from  lignocellulosic  agricultural  residues  is  the  focus  of  industrial  and scientific  interest.  The  feedstocks  of  the  second  generation  used  for  bioethanol  production  are lignocellulose-containing  raw  materials  like  different  types  of  straw,  or  other  plants  like miscanthus x giganteus. In all these plants, the cellulose in the lignocellulose is not accessible to enzymes. Therefore, lignin and/or hemicelluloses have to be removed by a specific pretreatment in order to make enzymatic degradation of cellulose possible. We examined and compared the pretreatment of wheat straw by means of steam treatment and steam explosion treatment. After  hydrolysis,  glucose  concentrations  up  to  ³00 g kg-¹  were  reached  both  for  steam- pretreated straw and steam-exploded straw. After fermentation, ethanol concentrations ranging from  ¹²0–¹⁴0 g kg-¹  were  achieved.  Results  suggest  that  the  explosion  process  slightly  favors the  solubilisation  of  sugars  and,  therefore,  enhances  ethanol  production.  Only  at  higher temperature and longer incubation time does the explosion process not seem to be necessary. In  addition  to  this,  we  examined  most  of  the  lignocellulosic  residuals  in  Austria  available  for bioethanol  production.  As  a  result,  we  can  show  that  even  in  a  country  not  focused  on agricultural production all the bioethanol needed for E¹0 can easily be provided.

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