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Pretreatment of Agricultural Residues Using Aqueous Ammonia for Fractionation and High Yield Saccharification

EPA Grant Number: R831645
Title: Pretreatment of Agricultural Residues Using Aqueous Ammonia for Fractionation and High Yield Saccharification
Investigators: Lee, Y. , Elander, Richard
Institution: Auburn University Main Campus , National Renewable Energy Laboratory
EPA Project Officer: Richards, April
Project Period: June 1, 2004 through May 31, 2006 (Extended to December 31, 2006)
Project Amount: $190,156
RFA: Technology for a Sustainable Environment (2003)
Research Category: Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development

Description:

Objective:

The objective of this project is to develop a pretreatment process suitable for enzymatic conversion of agricultural residues into fermentable sugars. The proposed process uses aqueous ammonia (a non-polluting substance) as the pretreatment. Use of ammonia offers significant economic and environmental merits since it is easily recycled and leaves no residual effect on the environment. The proposed pretreatment is a part of the integral biomass-to-fuels process that does not generate net CO2 (a green energy process). It is a pretreatment method of our own invention. When it is incorporated into the current biomass saccharification processes, it can accomplish a near complete fractionation of biomass into the three major constituents (pentosans, cellulose, and lignin). We intend to expand the fundamental knowledge base of this method and advance it to a point where it can be evaluated as a process technology.

Approach:

A pretreatment process is applied before the biomass is subjected to the biological processing. The proposed method has been proven to be highly effective in delignification of agricultural residues and herbaceous feedstocks. Delignifying biomass at the early phase of the process is beneficial for a number of reasons. Low lignin in the solid substrate improves the digestibility and the overall enzyme efficiency thus lowering the enzyme dosage. The low-lignin carbohydrates are less toxic to microorganisms. Early removal of lignin also eliminates the complications in the down-stream processing including the cell separation in the bioreactor and the distillation. The lignin separated by the proposed process is clean and free of contaminants. It is a high-grade fuel with no known environmental problems. It is also a potential feedstock very much amenable for further conversion into value-added chemicals. In addition to the clean lignin, the proposed process can produce high-grade cellulosic material that has broader market than the saccharification feedstock. It is a short chain cellulose fiber with high alpha-glucan content. Its potential market includes filler-fiber in papermaking and microcrystalline cellulose. The technical elements in this project are:

1. Laboratory investigation to refine and optimize the operating conditions of the proposed process using selected biomass feedstocks, primarily corn stover.

2. Evaluation of the treated feedstock in terms of the enzymatic digestibility based on cellulase enzyme and the ultimate ethanol yield by Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation (SSF).

3. Development of a proof-of-concept laboratory continuous co-current reactor for the proposed pretreatment.

4. Characterization and evaluation of the low-lignin end product as a filler-fiber in papermaking.

5. Sensitivity analysis of the process conditions and overall economic analysis of the proposed process.

Expected Results:

The proposed research will develop a pretreatment process based on aqueous ammonia and test it against agricultural residues including corn stover. The proposed pretreatment method aims to fractionate the biomass into the three major constituents. The end products of this pretreatment are to be evaluated as feedstock for enzymatic saccharification and as low-lignin fibers. A laboratory scale continuous (or semi-continuous) pretreatment reactor will be developed and the design and operational data base will be established.

Publications and Presentations:

Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 8 publications for this project

Journal Articles:

Journal Articles have been submitted on this project: View all 5 journal articles for this project

Supplemental Keywords:

biomass pretreatment, aqueous ammonia, carbon dioxide, renewable, agricultural residues, corn stover, enzymes, enzymatic conversion, digestibility, saccharification, fractionation, delignification, simultaneous saccharification and fermentation, cellulases, lignin, hemicellulose, clean technologies, innovative technology, waste reduction, environmentally conscious manufacturing, engineering, pretreatment reactor, southeast. , INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, Sustainable Industry/Business, Scientific Discipline, RFA, Technology for Sustainable Environment, Sustainable Environment, Chemicals Management, Environmental Chemistry, biomass, biowaste, green chemistry, environmentally friendly transportation fuel, fermentation of sugars, aqueous ammonia, agricultural byproducts, alternative energy source, alternative materials, enzyme transformations, alternative fuel

Progress and Final Reports:
2004 Progress Report
2005 Progress Report
Final Report

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The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.

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