title: Second-generation ethanol production from elephant grass at high total solids.
abstract: The enzymatic hydrolysis of Pennisetum purpureum (elephant grass) was evaluated at high total solid levels (from 4% to 20% (w/v)) in a concomitant ball milling treatment in a rotating hydrolysis reactor (RHR). The greatest glucose yield was 20.17% when 4% (w/v) untreated biomass was employed. When sugars obtained from enzymatic hydrolysis were submitted to fermentation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the greatest ethanol yield was 22.61% when 4% (w/v) untreated biomass was employed; however, the highest glucose concentration (12.47g/L) was obtaining using 20% (w/v) solids and highest ethanol concentration (6.1g/L) was obtained using 16% (w/v) solids. When elephant grass was hydrolyzed in the rotating hydrolysis reactor, ethanol production was about double that was produced when the biomass was hydrolyzed in a static reactor (SR). These data indicate that it is possible to produce ethanol from elephant grass when milling treatment and enzymatic hydrolysis are performed at the same time.
authors.affiliation: University of Caxias do Sul, Laboratory of Enzymes and Biomass, 1130 Francisco Getúlio Vargas Street, 95070-560 Caxias do Sul, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daiane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Menegol
authors.affiliation: University of Caxias do Sul, Laboratory of Enzymes and Biomass, 1130 Francisco Getúlio Vargas Street, 95070-560 Caxias do Sul, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Roselei Claudete
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Fontana
authors.affiliation: University of Caxias do Sul, Laboratory of Enzymes and Biomass, 1130 Francisco Getúlio Vargas Street, 95070-560 Caxias do Sul, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aldo José Pinheiro
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Dillon
authors.affiliation: University of Caxias do Sul, Laboratory of Enzymes and Biomass, 1130 Francisco Getúlio Vargas Street, 95070-560 Caxias do Sul, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: mcamassola@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Marli
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Camassola
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels; D018533:Biomass; D000431:Ethanol / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D005285:Fermentation; D006868:Hydrolysis; D031782:Pennisetum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D000431:Ethanol
keywords: Elephant grass; Enzymatic hydrolysis; Ethanol; Penicillium echinulatum; Saccharomyces cerevisiae