Cellulose conversion in dry grind ethanol plants

Michael Ladisch, Bruce Dale, Wally Tyner, Nathan Mosier, Youngmi Kim, Michael Cotta, Bruce Dien, Hans Blaschek, Edmund Laurenas, Brent Shanks, John Verkade, Chad Schell, Gene Petersen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The expansion of the dry grind ethanol industry provides a unique opportunity to introduce cellulose conversion technology to existing grain to ethanol plants, while enhancing ethanol yields by up to 14%, and decreasing the volume while increasing protein content of distiller's grains. The technologies required are cellulose pretreatment, enzyme hydrolysis, fermentation, and drying. Laboratory data combined with compositional analysis and process simulations are used to present a comparative analysis of a dry grind process to a process with pretreatment and hydrolysis of cellulose in distiller's grains. The additional processing steps are projected to give a 32% increase in net present value if process modifications are made to a 100 million gallon/year plant.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)5157-5159
Number of pages3
JournalBioresource Technology
Volume99
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2008

Keywords

  • Cellulases
  • Cellulose
  • Cellulose pretreatment
  • Corn co-products
  • Ethanol

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Bioengineering
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • Waste Management and Disposal

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