In the process according to the invention, recyclable rubber, metal, plastic are separated from municipal solid waste material and recovered, and the remaining organic part of the waste is used to produce ethanol and other chemicals. In one method, a pretreatment step is used in which the heavy metal content of the cellulosic component of the municipal solid waste material is reduced using dilute sulfuric acid. Alternatively, the heavy metal content of the cellulosic component of the municipal solid waste material is removed by hydrolysis with sulfuric acid by an ion exchange process. An economical, energy-efficient process for the production of ethanol from municipal solid waste material is also described. ŕ
展开▼
