Transport Solutions & Energy
Local bioethanol plants have an installed production capacity of 365 million liters.
However, the actual amount of bioethanol they produce only amounts to 270
million liters—well below the 550 million liters required for a 10% blend needed
for gasoline. The shortfall is due to the limited supply of feedstock in the
country, which consists of mainly sugarcane and molasses. Nipa and sweet
sorghum are being tapped to expand the feedstock mix, but another solution is
second generation bioethanol from lignocellulosic material, which is seen to
provide greater diversity while avoiding the food vs. fuel debate.
This project explored the consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) of lignocellulosic
material for bioethanol production. CBP combines three separate process
(enzyme production, substrate hydrolysis, and fermentation) into a single step
process. A fungus, Fusarium moniliforme, was found to produce enzymes that
could convert glucose and xylose to ethanol, in addition to its ability to hydrolyze
or depolymerize cellulose. The process and fungus were tested on various
biomass, namely pretreated napier grass, rice straw, banana pseudostem, and
coconut coirunder. Various pretreatments such as organosolve using formic acid,
combined formic and acetic acids, alkali, hydrogen peroxide, and COSLIF, were
used and compared on banana pseudostem. Formic acid pretreatment was found
to be most effective in dissolving lignin and opening up the pores of the biomass
to allow access for the enzymes into the cellulose fibrils. Recovery of the formic
acid and dissolved lignin from the effluent was also optimized.
The processes developed by the researchers could provide for an alternative and
more efficient method of producing ethanol locally, reducing the country’s
dependence on bioethanol importation for vehicular fuel needs.
The research was conducted with the help of undergraduate BS ChE students (graduated):
Ariel Raye Rica, John Steven Magboo, and Almajoy Ilao (BS ChE 2016)
Kimberly R. Palomique, Dave E. Ramos, and Troy Giuseppe . Tolentino (BS ChE 2017)
Kimberly Louise Y. Co, Luke R. Magsanoc, and Abigail Laureen C. Sy (BS ChE 2018)
Aaron John Medina, Jun Bryan Juen, and Shayne Rae Primavera (BS ChE 2019)
Emilio Paul Nogales, Grace Iris Miranda, and Ronald Eldrick Guico
Partially funded by: DOST ERDT (thesis grant of Mr. Lao)
Various UP Engineering Research and Development Foundation Inc. thesis grant donors
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