Development of a Process to Produce Alcohol at Paper Mills. Final Report

摘要

The objective of this project was to develop an enzymatic process for converting waste cellulose to ethanol at paper mills. Enzymes obtained fro Novo Laboratories Inc. were used to degrade cellulose and a temperature-tolerant strain of Saccharomyces uvarum was developed for fermentation. Vacuum distillation was used to recover ethanol and enzyme activity was retained after distillation, indicating that enzyme can be recycled. Runs continued as long as 55 days with no apparent buildup of toxic materials. Waste computer paper was used as a relatively clean simple feedstock, but high wet strengthed paper could be converted also. Ethanol yields as high as 83% of theoretical, based on cellulose fed, were achieved. (ERA citation 08:025846)