title: Pilot-scale study on the acid-catalyzed steam explosion of rice straw using a continuous pretreatment system.
abstract: A continuous acid-catalyzed steam explosion pretreatment process and system to produce cellulosic ethanol was developed at the pilot-scale. The effects of the following parameters on the pretreatment efficiency of rice straw feedstocks were investigated: the acid concentration, the reaction temperature, the residence time, the feedstock size, the explosion pressure and the screw speed. The optimal presteaming horizontal reactor conditions for the pretreatment process are as follows: 1.7 rpm and 100-110 °C with an acid concentration of 1.3% (w/w). An acid-catalyzed steam explosion is then performed in the vertical reactor at 185 °C for 2 min. Approximately 73% of the total saccharification yield was obtained after the rice straw was pretreated under optimal conditions and subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis at a combined severity factor of 0.4-0.7. Moreover, good long-term stability and durability of the pretreatment system under continuous operation was observed.
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Division, Institute of Nuclear Energy Research, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC. wenhua@iner.gov.tw
authors.forename: Wen-Hua
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chia-Chin
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Chih-Feng
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Pei-Yuan
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Wen-Song
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Hwang
mesh_terms: D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D002384:Catalysis; D002480:Cellulase / Q000737:chemistry*; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000431:Ethanol / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D012275:Oryza / Q000737:chemistry*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial / Q000737:chemistry*; D013227:Steam
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D013227:Steam; D000431:Ethanol; D002482:Cellulose; D002480:Cellulase