Investigation of Inhibitory Factors in Processors for Continuous Conversion ofCellulosic Biomass to Ethanol

摘要

New York State is interested in production of alternative fuels such as ethanolto increase economic activity and energy diversity in the transportation sector, where NYS depends on oil for 99% of fuel needs. Biomass, abundant in New York State, could provide the feedstock for an ethanol industry. This project attempted to reduce the cost of ethanol production from biomass by optimizing selected process steps and focussing on the use of thermophilic bacteria and upflow solids-retaining bioreactors. The project examined continuous hydrolysis and fermentation of first pretreated hardwood, and later paper sludge, to develop hardware and analytical techniques.