Optimization of uncatalyzed steam explosion pretreatment of rapeseed straw for biofuel production.
Rapeseed straw constitutes an agricultural residue with great potential as feedstock for ethanol production. In this work, uncatalyzed steam explosion was carried out as a pretreatment to increase the enzymatic digestibility of rapeseed straw. Experimental statistical design and response surface methodology were used to evaluate the influence of the temperature (185-215°C) and the process time (2.5-7.5min). According to the rotatable central composite design applied, 215°C and 7.5min were confirmed to be the optimal conditions, considering the maximization of enzymatic hydrolysis yield as optimization criterion. These conditions led to a maximum yield of 72.3%, equivalent to 81% of potential glucose in pretreated solid. Different configurations for bioethanol production from steam exploded rapeseed straw were investigated using the pretreated solid obtained under optimal conditions as a substrate. As a relevant result, concentrations of ethanol as high as 43.6g/L (5.5% by volume) were obtained as a consequence of using 20% (w/v) solid loading, equivalent to 12.4g ethanol/100g biomass.
Department of Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering, University of Jaén, Campus Las Lagunillas, 23071 Jaén, Spain.
Juan C
JC
López-Linares
DER-CIEMAT, Avda. Complutense 22, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
Ignacio
I
Ballesteros
Department of Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering, University of Jaén, Campus Las Lagunillas, 23071 Jaén, Spain.
Josefina
J
Tourán
Department of Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering, University of Jaén, Campus Las Lagunillas, 23071 Jaén, Spain.
Cristóbal
C
Cara
Department of Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering, University of Jaén, Campus Las Lagunillas, 23071 Jaén, Spain.
Eulogio
E
Castro
DER-CIEMAT, Avda. Complutense 22, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
Mercedes
M
Ballesteros
Department of Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering, University of Jaén, Campus Las Lagunillas, 23071 Jaén, Spain. Electronic address: iromero@ujaen.es.
Inmaculada
I
Romero
D056804:Biofuels / Q000382:microbiology*; D029741:Brassica rapa / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology*; D002384:Catalysis; D000431:Ethanol / Q000378:metabolism*; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000378:metabolism*; D013227:Steam
D056804:Biofuels; D013227:Steam; D000431:Ethanol
Fuel ethanol; High solids; Rapeseed straw; SSF; Steam explosion