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Published on: December 25, 2016
Use of cooling tower blow down in ethanol fermentation
N Rajagopalan1, V Singh, B Panno
1Institute of Natural Resource Sustainability, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL 61820, USA. kishore@istc.illinois.edu
Summary
Cooling tower blowdown water can be reused for bioethanol fermentation, significantly reducing water consumption. This sustainable practice is feasible, showing no negative impact on ethanol yield or yeast health.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Environmental Science
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Bioethanol production is a water-intensive process, raising concerns about resource scarcity and effluent management.
- Reducing water consumption in bioethanol manufacturing is crucial for economic viability and environmental sustainability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the feasibility of reusing cooling tower blowdown water in bioethanol fermentation.
- To assess the impact of blowdown water on fermentation efficiency and yeast performance.
Main Methods:
- Chemical characterization of cooling tower blowdown water was performed.
- Fermentation trials were conducted using blowdown water and deionized water as controls.
- Yeast tolerance to scale and corrosion inhibitors in blowdown water was evaluated.
Main Results:
- Blowdown water contained low levels of toxic elements and total dissolved solids.
- Fermentation with blowdown water yielded comparable ethanol and residual glucose levels to the control.
- Yeast demonstrated good tolerance to the inhibitors present in the blowdown water.
Conclusions:
- Reuse of cooling tower blowdown water in bioethanol fermentation is a viable strategy.
- This approach can effectively reduce water consumption in bioethanol production.
- Appropriate conditions and water quality assessment are key for successful implementation.
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