Improved bio-energy yields via sequential ethanol fermentation and biogas digestion of steam exploded oat straw.
Using standard laboratory equipment, thermochemically pretreated oat straw was enzymatically saccharified and fermented to ethanol, and after removal of ethanol the remaining material was subjected to biogas digestion. A detailed mass balance calculation shows that, for steam explosion pretreatment, this combined ethanol fermentation and biogas digestion converts 85-87% of the higher heating value (HHV) of holocellulose (cellulose and hemicellulose) in the oat straw into biofuel energy. The energy (HHV) yield of the produced ethanol and methane was 9.5-9.8 MJ/(kg dry oat straw), which is 28-34% higher than direct biogas digestion that yielded 7.3-7.4 MJ/(kg dry oat straw). The rate of biogas formation from the fermentation residues was also higher than from the corresponding pretreated but unfermented oat straw, indicating that the biogas digestion could be terminated after only 24 days. This suggests that the ethanol process acts as an additional pretreatment for the biogas process.
Department of Molecular Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 590, SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden.
Debebe Yilma
DY
Dererie
Stefan
S
Trobro
Majid Haddad
MH
Momeni
Henrik
H
Hansson
Johanna
J
Blomqvist
Volkmar
V
Passoth
Anna
A
Schnürer
Mats
M
Sandgren
Jerry
J
Ståhlberg
D000085:Acetates / Q000032:analysis; D018554:Avena / Q000737:chemistry*; D056804:Biofuels / Q000032:analysis*; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D000431:Ethanol / Q000378:metabolism*; D005285:Fermentation; D005990:Glycerol / Q000032:analysis; D008697:Methane / Q000032:analysis; D012995:Solubility; D013227:Steam; D014866:Waste Products / Q000032:analysis*
D000085:Acetates; D056804:Biofuels; D002241:Carbohydrates; D013227:Steam; D014866:Waste Products; D000431:Ethanol; D008697:Methane; D005990:Glycerol