Bioconversion of wood waste to bio-ethylene: A review

Bio-based ethylene produced by bioethanol dehydration is an environmentally friendly substitute for oil-based ethylene. It is a low-pollution raw material that can be used to produce high-value bio-based materials. Currently, some industrial plants use first-generation (1G) bioethanol to produce bio-ethylene. However, second-generation (2G) bioethanol is not currently used to produce bio-ethylene because the manufacturing processes are not optimized. The conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to bio-ethylene involves pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis of carbohydrates, the fermentation of sugars to ethanol, ethanol recovery by distillation, and ethanol dehydration to ethylene. This work presents a review of second-generation (2G) bio-ethylene production, analyzing the stages of the process, possible derivatives, uses, and applications. This review also contains technical, economic, and environmental considerations in the possible installation of a biorefinery in the northeast region of Argentina (NEA).

ETHANOL RECOVERY FROM PROPOLIS PRODUCTION WASTE USING ADSORPTION DISTILLATION METHOD

Objective: This study objective to compare two adsorbents in the ability to recover ethanol in the propolis production by-product. Methods: Research methods include initial identification of the compound content in ethanol by-products of propolis production with GC/MS and determination of ethanol levels by GC-FID. The process of increasing ethanol content is carried out by the adsorption distillation method; the adsorbent used are synthetic zeolite 3A and white silica gel which has activated with the furnace. Results: The result obtained from the study is the initial ethanol content 27.5%. After the ethanol recycle process using synthetic zeolite 3A 30, 60, and 90 grams, it was obtained content 82.3%, 87.1%, and 90.9%. By using 30, 60, and 90 grams silica gel, it was obtained content 72.0%, 79.2%, and 82.2%. Conclusion: Based on these results it can be concluded that the ethanol content of the by-products of propolis production has been successfully increased by the distillation adsorption method with synthetic zeolite 3A 90 grams as the best result. The ethanol which recycling with this formulation has the characteristic odor of ethanol, which is very strong and does not has the characteristic odor of propolis.