Bioethanol production from non-pretreated fast-growing wood by SHF process
Poplars and willow, as the most productive species in much of Europe and Asia, represent an important source of short rotation energy crops for use as an alternative energy source. Populus nigra • Populus maximowiczii (hybrid poplar), Populus alba • Populus glandulosa (hybrid poplar) and Salix alba (willow) are fast-growing renewable biomass that is widely distributed in Korea. In this study, we evaluated the potential of non-pretreated fast growing woods as a biomass resource for the production of bioethanol based on the species.
The fast-growing woods were harvested after one year of growth, debarked, chipped and grounded with a Wiley mill, and the fraction between a 80-mesh screen and a 20-mesh screen was collected. Then, fast-growing wood meals were used for enzymatic hydrolysis. These hydrolyzates were used ethanol production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae KCTC 7296.
The high content of cellulose in Populus alba • Populus glandulosa (49%) indicated that the materials could be a potential feedstock for bioethanol production. Also, The maximum ethanol yield (69.3%) was obtained after 96 hours fermentation of Populus alba • Populus glandulosa. Hybrid poplar (short growth period) is a potentially useful biomass resource for the production of biofuels.