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Title
SO2-ethanol-water fractionation of forest biomass and implications for biofuel production by ABE fermentation
Authors
M. Rakkolainen M. Iakovlev A-L. Terasvuori E. Sklavounos G. Jurgens T. B. Granstrom and A. Van Heiningen
Received
November 17, 2009
Published
Volume 44 Issue 4-6 April-June
Keywords
biorefinery, forest biomass, SEW pulping, ethanol pulping, ABE fermentation, Clostridia
Abstract
The study proposes an economic process for the production of commodity chemicals from forest biomass and recycled fibers. This so-called Bioforest process uses tree tops, limbs, twigs, stumps and recycled paper as feedstock for fermentation to butanol, ethanol and acetone/isopropanol. This mixture of solvents can be sold as chemicals or used to replace gasoline in internal combustion engines. The SO -ethanol-water 2 fractionation method affords efficient fractionation of forest biomass, under moderate conditions, yielding a high amount of fermentable sugars. Subsequently, sugars are subjected to ABE fermentation. Preliminary trials with conditioned hemicellulose solutions produced by the fractionation process show that they are fermentable by bacteria, such as the Clostridia species, but further work is needed to optimize the production of butanol, ethanol and acetone or isopropanol.
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