Sunday, May 4, 2008
3-48

Cellulosic ethanol production from sugarcane bagasse using lime

Chang-Ho Chung and Donal F. Day. Audubon Sugar Institute, LSU Agricultural Center, 3845 Hwy 75, St. Gabriel, LA 70776

The daily consumption of gasoline in the United States was estimated to be about 400 million gallons, or 146 billion gallons annually in 2004.  A goal expressed by the US government is to replace 30% of gasoline consumed in 2004 with ethanol by the year 2030.  A Production of ethanol from cellulosic biomass as well as from corn is required to meet this goal.  An efficient and economical pretreatment of biomass is essential for cellulosic ethanol production. Sugarcane bagasse was pretreated with lime in a process of producing simple sugars for fermentation to ethanol. After dewatering and pH adjustment with acid, the fibrous material was rapidly solubilized by cellulases, at solids loading ranging from 10 to 30 % (w/w). Composition analysis showed that the lime pretreatment process did not damage either the cellulose or hemicellulose and removed about 28% (w/w) of lignin. Lime treated lignocellulosic material did not produce the inhibitory effects on cellulase activity or fermentation and compared favorably with pure cellulose control. The process was demonstrated at a pilot scale. Production of cellulosic ethanol from sugarcane bagasse was demonstrated.  

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