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Published on: October 24, 2016
Ethanol production from high dry matter corncob using fed-batch simultaneous saccharification and fermentation after
Mingjia Zhang1, Fang Wang, Rongxin Su
1State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China.
Bioresource Technology
|December 17, 2009
Summary
This study optimized ethanol production from corncob using simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF). A fed-batch process achieved a high ethanol concentration of 84.7 g/L, demonstrating efficient bioconversion of lignocellulosic biomass.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Biochemical Engineering
- Renewable Energy
Background:
- Corncob is a lignocellulosic biomass rich in cellulose, a potential feedstock for bioethanol production.
- Efficient conversion of corncob to ethanol requires pretreatment to remove lignin and hemicellulose, followed by enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation.
- Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) offers advantages in consolidating process steps for enhanced ethanol yields.
Purpose of the Study:
- To optimize ethanol production from pretreated corncob using simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF).
- To investigate the effects of fed-batch operation and high solid loading on ethanol yield and concentration.
- To determine optimal conditions for maximizing ethanol yield from lignocellulosic biomass.
Main Methods:
- Corncob pretreatment using dilute sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide to remove non-cellulose components.
- Batch and fed-batch simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) processes were employed.
- Optimization of SSF parameters including dry matter content, enzyme loading, yeast loading, and substrate feeding strategy.
Main Results:
- Batch SSF achieved an ethanol concentration of 69.2 g/L with 19% dry matter (DM), yielding 81.2% overall ethanol.
- Fed-batch SSF with 25% DM and optimized feeding strategy yielded a maximum ethanol concentration of 84.7 g/L after 96 hours.
- Overall ethanol yield in the fed-batch process was 79%, demonstrating improved efficiency at higher solid loading.
Conclusions:
- Fed-batch SSF at high solid concentrations (25% DM) is an effective strategy for high-titer ethanol production from corncob.
- Optimized pretreatment and SSF conditions significantly enhance the bioconversion of lignocellulosic materials to ethanol.
- This approach offers a promising route for sustainable and cost-effective bioethanol production from agricultural residues.
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