I am thinking of producing bioethanol from mixed lignocellulosic substrates (e.g. sugar cane bagasse + corn stover) using microorganisms. Does anyone have any information regarding this idea?
Good Idea. Check with all other agricultural residues in both SSF and SMF.
The idea is borne out of the need to maximize the use of lignocellulosic substrates. Some antagonists of biofuel from lignocellulose claim that there cant be a continuous supply of the feedstocks because the quantity is not much. So, i feel by combining different feedstocks together, we wouldnt have to depend on one substrate alone and would not need multiple biorefineries.
There are efforts to convert lignocellulosics to ethanol using microrganisms and there is nothing wrong with the idea of using mixed bimass sources. Most efforts focus on one type of biomass because it is easier to find a bacteria that works well on specific type. The lignin component especially has the potential to suppress the activity of bacteria. So if you find a bacteria that works with one biomass the lignin component of another biomass may reduce its effectiveness. So you may solve one of your feedstock hurdles by combining biomass, you may however, pay a real yield penalty in terms of ethanol productivity and may make the approach uneconomic.
In order to produse ethanol firs you have to hydrolyze a lignocellulosic substrate to produce fermentable sugers and then ferment it by yeast or bacteria. Or you can find microorganism which can do these all
Doug Soveran sir, the idea i have is to combine biomass with similar compositional structure e.g. rice bran and wheat bran, corn stover and sorghum stalk, etc. These substrates have similar make up and are likely to have the same or similar amounts of lignin. Therefore, a suitable organism should be able to utilize both simultaneously. This idea is the best it is right now- just an idea. Thanks for your views.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Biological Science
- Bioscience
- Biotechnology