Evaluation of a wet processing strategy for mixed phumdi biomass conversion to bioethanol

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Renewable Energy
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Biorefineries commonly use dry feedstock, facing technical and logistical challenges.
• Wet processing presents an alternative, particularly in unfavorable climates or when immediate processing is required.
• Phumdis, floating vegetation from India's Loktak Lake, represent a unique, underutilized biomass resource.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility of using fresh, non-dried Phumdi biomass for bioethanol production.
• To develop and assess a wet processing strategy for this unique aquatic feedstock.
• To determine the potential for value addition to mixed Phumdi biomass.

Main Methods:

• Phumdi biomass underwent dilute alkali pretreatment (1.5% alkali, 120°C, 60 min).
• Enzymatic hydrolysis was performed on the pretreated biomass to release sugars.
• Fermentation of the resulting hydrolysates was conducted to produce bioethanol.

Main Results:

• Pretreatment achieved 36% lignin removal and increased cellulose content from 37% to 48%.
• Enzymatic hydrolysis yielded 25 g/L of glucose.
• Fermentation demonstrated high efficiency, reaching 95% in 36 hours and 80% in 12 hours.

Conclusions:

• Wet processing of fresh Phumdi biomass is a viable strategy for bioethanol production.
• This method enhances the value of mixed Phumdi biomass, offering a sustainable solution.
• The study highlights a promising new approach for utilizing aquatic vegetation in biorefineries.