Modelling the energy performance of a farm-scale cellulose to ethanol process with on-site cellulase production and anaerobic digestion

Mitchell Lever

Renewable Energy, 2015, vol. 74, issue C, 893-902

Abstract: A farm-scale process for converting wheat straw to ethanol was modelled to assess its energy performance. The process incorporates the on-site production of crude unprocessed liquid cellulase produced via solid-state fermentation, and the anaerobic digestion of process residues to supply heat and electricity. Results include energy yield ratios from 6 to 9, reductions of 80–90 % in the energy required to produce and transport the cellulase compared to commercial preparations, and a net surplus of on-site heat and electricity. From these improvements in process efficiency, environmental benefits follow.

Keywords: Cellulase; Cellulose; Ethanol; Solid-state fermentation; Anaerobic digestion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:74:y:2015:i:c:p:893-902

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2014.08.069

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