title: The effect of a combined biological and thermo-mechanical pretreatment of wheat straw on energy yields in coupled ethanol and methane generation.
abstract: Ethanol and biogas are energy carriers that could contribute to a future energy system independent of fossil fuels. Straw is a favorable bioenergy substrate as it does not compete with food or feed production. As straw is very resistant to microbial degradation, it requires a pretreatment to insure efficient conversion to ethanol and/or methane. This study investigates the effect of combining biological pretreatment and steam explosion on ethanol and methane yields in order to improve the coupled generation process. Results show that the temperature of the steam explosion pretreatment has a particularly strong effect on possible ethanol yields, whereas combination with the biological pretreatment showed no difference in overall energy yield. The highest overall energy output was found to be 10.86 MJ kg VS(-1) using a combined biological and steam explosion pretreatment at a temperature of 200°C.
authors.affiliation: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Konrad-Lorenz-Strasse 24, A-3430 Tulln, Austria.
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Theuretzbacher
authors.affiliation: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala BioCenter, Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, P.O. Box 7015, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blomqvist
authors.affiliation: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Konrad-Lorenz-Strasse 24, A-3430 Tulln, Austria; alpS - Centre for Climate Change Adaptation, Grabenweg 68, A-6010 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lizasoain
authors.affiliation: alpS - Centre for Climate Change Adaptation, Grabenweg 68, A-6010 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Klietz
authors.affiliation: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Division of Organic Chemistry, Konrad-Lorenz-Strasse 24, A-3430 Tulln, Austria.
authors.forename: Antje
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Potthast
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway.
authors.forename: Svein Jarle
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Horn
authors.affiliation: Cambi AS, Skysstasjon 11A, 1383 Asker, Norway.
authors.forename: Paal J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Nilsen
authors.affiliation: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Konrad-Lorenz-Strasse 24, A-3430 Tulln, Austria.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gronauer
authors.affiliation: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala BioCenter, Department of Microbiology, P.O. Box 7025, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Volkmar
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Passoth
authors.affiliation: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Konrad-Lorenz-Strasse 24, A-3430 Tulln, Austria. Electronic address: alexander.bauer@boku.ac.at.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bauer
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D056804:Biofuels; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000378:metabolism*; D005285:Fermentation; D008697:Methane / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000378:metabolism; D013227:Steam; D013696:Temperature; D014908:Triticum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D013227:Steam; D000431:Ethanol; D008697:Methane
keywords: Effects; Ethanol; Lignocellulose; Methane; Pretreatment