Effect of fertilizer doses on bioenergy productivity of sugar sorghum

It was found that sugar sorghum for growing in conditions of insufficient moisture on typical chernozem responds positively to the application of mineral fertilizers. The use of fertilizers increased the accumulation of sugars in plant stems in the phase of wax ripeness by 0.5−2.3%, biomass yield by 3.0−18.1 t/ha, bioethanol yield by 0.2−1.1 t/ha, solid fuel by 1.2−6.8 t/ha, total energy yield by 24−135 GJ/ha. The maximum bioenergy productivity of sugar sorghum was reached by growing hybrid ‘Nektarnyi’ and applying N120P120K120. The yield of bioethanol was 3.7 t/ha, solid fuel 22.2 t/ha, total energy yield 446 GJ/ha with excess of control without fertilizers by 1.1 t/ha, 6.8 t/ha and 135 GJ/ha, respectively.

Microwave Assisted Alkaline Pretreatment of Algae Waste in the Production of Cellulosic Bioethanol

Biomass pretreatment has an important role in the production of cellulosic bioethanol. In this study, the effectiveness of microwave assisted alkaline pretreatment of algae waste was analysed. After pretreatment, the product was hydrolysed using sulphuric acid. The effects of microwave power, irradiating time, solid–liquid ratio and NaOH concentration were examined. Under the best conditions, the fermentable sugars were converted to cellulosic bioethanol using Saccharomyces Cerevisiae with a bioethanol yield of 1.93 ± 0.01 g/g and a fermentation efficiency of 40.4%. The reducing sugars concentration was 30% higher than that obtained from conventional hydrolysis without pretreatment. The obtained results suggest that microwave assisted alkaline pretreatment is effective in improving the production of cellulosic bioethanol of algae waste compared to that without microwave effect. Considering energy consumption, low microwave power and short microwave irradiation time are favourable for this pretreatment.

Evaluation of polyploid miscanthus lines usage efficiency as a feedstock for bioethanol production

Aim. Main aim of this research was the evaluation of theoretical bioethanol yield (per ha) from hexaploid giant miscanthus (Miscanthus х giganteus) and further comparison with conventional triploid form as well as with other bioethanol crops. Methods. Several mathematic functions were determined that describe yearly yield dynamics and equations, which were used in calculations of theoretical bioethanol yield. Results. The theoretical bioethanol yield was evaluated for different hexaploid miscanthus lines. The most productive in terms of ethanol yield were lines 108 and 202, from which potential bioethanol yield was found to be higher than in control line (6451 L/ha) by 10.7 % and 14.2% respectively and can reach 7144 L/ha and 7684 L/ha. Conclusions. It was determined that the most productive lines of polyploid miscanthus (lines 108 and 202) are able to compete with other plant cellulosic feedstocks for second-generation bioethanol production in Ukraine. However, these lines show bioethanol productivity than sweet sorghum, in the case when sweet sorghum is processed for obtainment of both first- and second-generation bioethanol. Keywords: bioenergy crops, biofuels, giant miscanthus, Miscanthus, polyploidy, second-generation bioethanol.

Mushroom-mediated delignification of agricultural wastes for bio-ethanol production

Biological pretreatment is a cost-effective method of delignifying lignocellulosic biomass, making it less recalcitrant to hydrolysis into fermentable sugars. In this study, selected agricultural wastes were pretreated with mushrooms (Lentinus squarrosulus and Pleurotus ostreatus) to delignify them for bioethanol production. The substrates were supplemented with 0.2 % CaCO3, inoculated with 12 % (w/w) L. squarrosulus and Pleurotus ostreatus spawns and incubated at 25 oC for 21 days. The highest lignin removal and highest bioethanol yield of 77.45 % and 13.98 % were obtained from bean husks pretreated with L. squarrosulus. Similarly, 64.29 % and 60.92 % lignin were removed from the Pleurotus ostreatus-pretreated banana leaves and sawdust, respectively, while 12.08 % and 13.05 % bio-ethanol yields were recorded, respectively. These findings demonstrate that affordable and straightforward mushroom delignification of abundant and cheap biomass can improve hydrolysis outcomes, thus easing bioethanol production.

Comparison of Low-Temperature Alkali/Urea Pretreatments for Ethanol Production from Wheat Straw

NaOH/urea (NU) pretreatment at lower than 0 °C has been frequently applied for improving bio-conversion of lignocellulose, but the wastewater generated from the pretreatment process is hard to dispose. KOH/urea (KU) pretreatment for enhancing bioconversion of lignocellulose has recently attracted researchers’ attention due to the recycling of wastewater for facilitating crops’ growth. This study compared the effects of NU and KU pretreatments at cold conditions on the enzymatic hydrolysis and bioethanol yield from wheat straw (WS). By using response surface methodology an optimal pretreatment with an equal ratio of alkali/urea (4% w/v) at −20 °C for 3 h was established. The enzymatic hydrolysis of KU-treated WS was 81.17%, which was similar to that of NU-treated WS (83.72%) under the same condition. It means that KU pretreatment has equal ability to NU pretreatment to improve enzymatic saccharification of lignocellulose. KU pretreatment has the promising potential to replace NU pretreatment for facilitating bioconversion of lignocellulose in cold conditions due to the clean way to recycle its wastewater as fertilizer for crop growth. Hence, KU pretreatment combined with enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation could be a promising green way to cellulosic ethanol production with zero waste emission.

Pseudo-lignin retarded bioconversion of sugarcane bagasse holocellulose after liquid hot water and acid pretreatments

Pseudo-lignin derived from the condensation of carbohydrate degradation products can retard the bioconversion of lignocellulose. In this work, liquid hot water (150 to 190 °C) and 1% H2SO4 pretreatments (130 to 190 °C) were used on sugarcane bagasse holocellulose for 3 h to generate pseudo-lignin. The effects of pseudo-lignin generation on structural characteristics and bioconversion of substrates were evaluated. The results showed that the formation of pseudo-lignin increased the hydrophobicity of the substrates. After LHW pretreatments and acid pretreatments at low temperatures (<150 °C), most of the xylans were removed, yielding 2.1 to 5.4% pseudo-lignin. Increasing acid pretreatment temperature to 170 and 190 °C yielded 34.3% and 93.6% pseudo-lignin, respectively. After pretreatment, the accessibilities and bioconversions of substrates were enhanced by degradation of xylans, increasing glucose conversions and bioethanol productions of substrates from 53.2 to 85.3%, and 9.9 to 13.1 g/L, respectively. However, large amounts of pseudo-lignin were generated during acid pretreatments at 170 °C, reducing glucose conversion and bioethanol yield to 45.6% and 6.3 g/L, respectively.

Evaluation of seasonal variation and the optimization of reducing sugar extraction from Ulva prolifera biomass using thermochemical method

Green macroalgae comprise significant amount of structural carbohydrates for their conversion to liquid biofuels. However, it generally relies on species characteristics and the variability in seasonal profile to determine its route for bioprocessing. Hence, this study was conducted to analyze the indigenous marine macroalgal strain (Ulva prolifera) with respect to periodic trend and reducing sugar extraction. Consequently, in our investigation, the monthly variation in sugar profile and bioethanol yield was assessed between the monsoon and post-monsoon seasons, of which relatively high reducing sugar and fermentative bioethanol yield of about 0.152 ± 0.009 g/gdw and 6.275 ± 0.161 g/L was obtained for the October-month isolate (MITM10). Thereafter, the biochemical profile of this collected biomass (MITM10) revealed carbohydrate 34.98 ± 3.30%, protein 12.45 ± 0.49%, and lipid 1.93 ± 0.07%, respectively, on dry weight basis. Of these, the total carbohydrate fraction yielded the maximum reducing sugar of 0.156 ± 0.005 g/gdw under optimal conditions (11.07% (w/v) dosage, 0.9 M H2SO4, 121°C for 50 min) for thermal-acid hydrolysis. Furthermore, the elimination of polysaccharides was confirmed using the characterization techniques scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Therefore, the present thermochemical treatment method provides a species-specific novel strategy to breakdown the macroalgal cell wall polysaccharides that enhances sugar extraction for its utilization as an efficient bioenergy resource.

PRODUCTION OF BIOETHANOL FROM TECTONA GRANDIS, PTEROCARPUS MARSUPIUM AND PAPER

Currently one of the world’s primary energy sources, fossil fuels are also causing an increase in environmental pollution. Besides pollution, these fossil fuels are also diminishing in quantities which increase the need for alternative fuels. This rising need lead to the development of alternative renewable energy resources. A diverse range of sources are available that can be efficiently utilized to produce biofuels, in this research we utilize Tectona grandis (teak wood), Pterocarpus marsupium (malabar kino)and paper as biomass sources to produce bioethanol using Saccharomycescerevisiae fermentation. These biomasses were said to be lignocellulosic substrates rich in cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) are used to in the conversion of substrate to ethanol in which the polysaccharides in the biomass are converted into simple sugars by hydrolysis. After which Saccharomyces cerevisiae used these basic sugars for the development of ethanol by fermentation. A bioethanol yield of 14.1%, 10.81% and 7.5% was obtained from Tectona grandis ,Pterocarpus marsupium and paper respectively, which was analyzed using dichromate titrimetric method. Thebioethanol yield from Tectona grandis is predominantly when compared with other biomasses.