Renewable biological systems for alternative sustainable energy production. (FAO Agricultural Services Bulletin - 128) (1997): Chapter 3 - Production of fuel alcohol from cellulosic biomass: 3.5 Alcohol production using an integrated pilot plant: (introduction...)

Renewable biological systems for alternative sustainable energy production. (FAO Agricultural Services Bulletin - 128) (1997)

(introduction...)

Acknowledgments

Contributors

Foreword

Summary

Chapter 1 - Biological energy production

1.1 Energy and environmental issues

1.2 Photosynthesis and biomass

1.2.1 Photosynthetic efficiency

1.2.2 Biomass wastes and their conversion

1.2.3 Fuel production via microalgal CO2 fixation

1.3 General problems

References

Chapter 2 - Energy conversion by photosynthetic organisms

(introduction...)

2.1 Photosynthetic capture of solar energy

2.1.1 Solar energy

2.1.2 Why is biotechnology now applied to energy technology?

2.2 Photosynthesis mechanisms

(introduction...)

2.2.1 Plant photosynthesis

2.2.2 Bacterial photosynthesis

2.3 Hydrogen production through solar energy conversions

(introduction...)

2.3.1 Cyanobacterial hydrogen production (plant-type photosynthesis)

2.3.2 Bacterial hydrogen production (bacterial-type photosynthesis)

2.3.3 Use of photosynthesized proteins in photoelectric conversion elements

References

Chapter 3 - Production of fuel alcohol from cellulosic biomass

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Cellulase production

3.2.1 Cellulase

3.2.2 Screening of cellulase-producing microorganisms

3.2.3 Strain improvement for cellulase production

(introduction...)

3.2.3.1 Development of a process for high-titer cellulase production

3.2.3.2 Cellulase production at low cost

3.2.3.3 Potential for mass production of cellulase

3.3 Saccharification of cellulosic waste materials

3.3.1 Pre-treatment of cellulosic waste

3.3.2 Saccharification of cellulosic waste

3.3.2.1 Saccharification

3.3.2.2 Recovery and re-use of cellulase

3.3.2.3 Sugar concentration using reverse osmosis

3.4 Use of immobilized yeast cells in alcohol fermentation's

(introduction...)

3.4.1 Preparation of immobilized yeast cells

3.4.2 Continuous plant operation using immobilized yeast cells

3.4.3 Fermentation processes used in ethanol production

3.4.4 Flash fermentation using immobilized yeast cells

3.5 Alcohol production using an integrated pilot plant

(introduction...)

3.5.1 Outline

3.5.2 Pre-treatment of cellulosic biomass

3.5.3 Cellulase production

3.5.4 Saccharification of biomass

3.5.5 Enzyme recovery from biomass

3.5.6 Concentration of sugar solutions

3.5.7 Alcohol fermentation

3.5.8 Alcohol recovery

3.6 Feasibility study

3.7 Conclusion

References

Chapter 4 - Methane production

(introduction...)

4.1 Microbial consortia and biological aspects of methane fermentation

(introduction...)

4.1.1 Hydrolysis and acidogenesis

4.1.2 Acetogenesis and dehydrogenation

4.1.3 Methanogenesis

4.2 Molecular biology of methanogens

(introduction...)

4.2.1 Genetic markers

4.2.2 Molecular cloning of methanogenic genes

4.2.3 Genetic transformations

4.3 Developments in bioreactor technology

(introduction...)

4.3.1 Upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB)

4.3.2 Upflow anaerobic filter process (UAFP)

4.3.3 Anaerobic fluidized-bed reactor (AFBR)

4.3.4 Two-phase methane fermentation processes

References

Chapter 5 - Hydrogen production

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Biophotolysis of water by microalgae and cyanobacteria

(introduction...)

5.2.1 Hydrogenase-dependent hydrogen production

5.2.2 Nitrogenase-dependent hydrogen production

5.3 Hydrogen from organic compounds

5.3.1 Hydrogen production by photosynthetic bacteria

5.3.2 Combined photosynthetic and anaerobic and bacterial hydrogen production

5.4 Enhancement of hydrogen-producing capabilities through genetic engineering

5.5 Research and development on biological hydrogen production

5.6 Future prospects

References

Chapter 6 - Oil production

6.1 Oil substitutes from biomass

6.2 Microalgae as biological sources of lipids and hydrocarbons

6.3 Thermochemical liquefaction of microalgae

6.3.1 Liquid fuels from microalgal biomass

6.3.2 Cultivation of microalgae

6.3.3 Liquefaction of microalgae

6.4 Algal hydrogenation

6.5 Future prospects

References

Chapter 7 - The future of renewable biological energy systems

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Biomass production potential and efficiencies

7.3 Fuel alcohol production from biomass

7.4 Methane fermentations

7.5 Fuels derived from microalgae

7.6 Conclusions

References

FAO technical papers

(introduction...)

Various aspects of alcohol fermentation from cellulosic biomass have been discussed thus far. A number of problems still remain to be resolved prior to industrial-scale production of fuel alcohol from cellulosic biomass. As mentioned in the introduction to this chapter, subsequent to our studies on basic and elemental techniques, an integrated pilot plant for the production of alcohol from biomass, was constructed in our laboratory, in order to demonstrate individual processes. Construction of the plant commenced in 1983, and continued in a step-wise manner for 5 years. The final plant was capable of treating 720 kg of raw material per day with the production of 150 to 200 liters of dehydrated fuel alcohol. A process flow diagram of the pilot plant is given in Fig. 3-20, while Fig. 3-21 shows a plan of the plant.

Figure 3.17 - Effect of alcohol concentration on fermentation rates of immobilized continuous fermentation processes

Figure 3.18 - Schematic of an immobilized flash system