Sunday, May 3, 2009
3-69
Biofuels Production with Cattails from Constructed Wetlands
Bo Zhang1, Katherine Suda1, Lijun Wang1, and Abloghasem Shahbazi2. (1) Natural Resources and Environmental Design, North Carolina A & T State University, 1601 East Market Street, Greensboro, NC 27411, (2) Natural Resources and Environmental Design, North Carolina A&T State University, 1601 East Market Street, 123 Sockwell Hall, Greensboro, NC 27411
The feasibility of conversion of the cattails in the constructed wetlands of the North Carolina A&T Farm into ethanol and hydrogen was investigated. Using the cattails to produce renewable energy will add value to the land as well as reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by replacing petroleum products. Pretreatment of the dried cattails with hot water, dilute sulfuric acid or sodium hydroxide was followed by solid-liquid separation and enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation of using Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ATCC 24858), Yamadazyma stipitis (ATCC 58784) and Enterobacter aerogenes HU101. Trials gave an average conversion efficiency of 43.4% for the pretreated solids alone which, in conjunction with the crop yield for the cattails, would give up to 4,012 liters ethanol per hectare, a favorable comparison with corn stover’s 1,665 L/ha at a 60% conversion rate. Given the high potential – 9,680 L/ha at 60% conversion efficiency for solid and liquid streams – and the social and environmental benefits gained by adding value to the waste management system and reducing carbon emissions otherwise made by gasoline, it is recommended that further studies be made using cattails as a feedstock for biofuels.