Effects of glycerol on enzymatic hydrolysis and ethanol production using sugarcane bagasse pretreated by acidified glycerol solution. (September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Zhanying; Wong, Heng H.; Albertson, Peter L.; Harrison, Mark D.; Doherty, William O.S.; O'Hara, Ian M.
• Is Part Of: Bioresource technology. Volume 192(2015)
• Page Start: 367
• Page End: 373
• Publication Date: 2015-09
• Subjects: Sugarcane bagasse -- Glycerol -- Pretreatment -- Enzymatic hydrolysis -- Fermentation; Biomass -- Periodicals; Biomass energy -- Periodicals; Bioremediation -- Periodicals; Agricultural wastes -- Periodicals; Factory and trade waste -- Periodicals; Organic wastes -- Periodicals; Bioénergie -- Périodiques; Déchets agricoles -- Périodiques; Déchets industriels -- Périodiques; Déchets organiques -- Périodiques; Déchets (Combustible) -- Périodiques; 662.88
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2015.05.093
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-8524

Abstract

Highlights: 2.0 wt% glycerol inhibited glucan digestibility by 2.0%. Up to 5.0 wt% glycerol had no effect on subsequent yeast fermentation. Glycerol is a less potent inhibitor of enzymes and yeast than ionic liquids. Pilot-scale ethanol production was demonstrated with 5.51 wt% residual glycerol. An ethanol yield of 0.142 kg/kg dry bagasse can be achieved. Abstract: In this study, for the first time the effects of glycerol on enzymatic hydrolysis and ethanol fermentation were investigated. Enzymatic hydrolysis was inhibited slightly with 2.0 wt% glycerol, leading to reduction in glucan digestibility from 84.9% without glycerol to 82.9% (72 h). With 5.0 wt% and 10.0 wt% glycerol, glucan digestibility was reduced by 4.5% and 11.0%, respectively. However, glycerol did not irreversibly inhibit cellulase enzymes. Ethanol fermentation was not affected by glycerol up to 5.0 wt%, but was inhibited slightly at 10.0 wt% glycerol, resulting in reduction in ethanol yield from 86.0% in the absence of glycerol to 83.7% (20 h). Based on the results of laboratory and pilot-scale experiments, it was estimated that 0.142 kg ethanol can be produced from 1.0 kg dry bagasse (a glucan content of 38.0%) after pretreatment with acidified glycerol solution.