Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Ethanol, the ultimate feedstock

A technoeconomic evaluation of ethanol manufacture in fluidized bed bioreactors operating with immobilized cells

  • Published:
Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Ethanol appears to be a key factor in the “biomass alternative” to fossil feedstocks for producing fuels and chemicals. If produced at a low enough price relative to crude oil, it and its derivates could account for 159 billion pounds, or 50%, of the US production of synthetic organic chemicals, presently valued at $113 billion. This use would consume 4.2 billion bushels, or about 54%, of the corn crop.

This study evaluated the potential savings in ethanol manufacture to be gained by applying advanced process engineering or genetic engineering of improved organisms, centering on the use of fluidized bed bioreactors operating at high cell densities with immobilized cells of either the Saccharomyces yeast or the bacterium: Zymomonas mobilis.

A new continuous plant could produce at about $1.82/gal based on Zymomonas or $1.97/gal based on the Saccharomyces yeast. The bacterium has a competitive edge as a result of its lower sensitivity to product inhibition.

There appears to be no inherent design limitation to effect the engineering improvements required for the advanced process. In a longer-term, more difficult research effort, it might be possible to reduce or eliminate product inhibition to reduce cost even further.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. McNabb, J. E. (1986), World energy outlook through 2000, Conoco Inc., Wilmington, DE, Sept.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Lynch, M. C. (1988), “Preparing for the next oil crisis”,Chem. Eng. Prog. 20.

  3. McCartney, S. (1988), Surge in price of oil foreseen in next decade,News Journal, Wilmington, DE, B1O.

  4. Gupte, P. (1988), Price Surge Ahead,Forbes,55.

  5. Anon (1988), Oil futures prices jump,News Journal, Wilmington, DE, B6.

  6. Layman, P. L. (1989), Middle East chemical industry eyes new products, markets,“C&E News, 20.

  7. Jasper, S. (1989), Oil service stocks are ready to soar,News Journal, Wilmington, DE, B1O.

  8. Reisch, M. N. (1991), 50 top chemicals production resumed growth last year,C&E News,13.

  9. Busche, R. M. (1989),Appl. Biochem. & Biotech. 20/21, 655–674.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Buzanell, P. (1991), Sugar and sweetener situation and outlook,USDA ERS SSRV16N1.

  11. Busche, R. M. (1986), Ethanol industrial market volume and potential, Bio En-Gene-Er Associates, Inc., Wilmington, DE.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Chem Mkt Reporter, March 24, 1989.

  13. Margiloff, I. B. et al. (1981), Ethyl alcohol as a motor fuel, Alcohol Fuel Task Force, AIChE, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Anon (1981), Second annual report on the use of alcohols in fuels, US Dept Energy, Office of Alcohol Fuels.

  15. Katzen, R., Ackley, W. R:, Moon, G. D., Messick, J. R., Brush, B. F., and Kaupisch, K. F. (1978), Low energy distillation systems, Raphael Katzen Associates Int’, Inc, Cincinnati, OH.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Katzen, R. (1979), Grain motor fuel alcohol technical and economic assessment study, US Dept. Energy, HCP/J6639-01.

  17. Moon, G. D., Messick, J. R., Easley, C. E., and Katzen, R. (1979), Grain alcohol motor fuel: Technology & economics, Automotive Technology Devt. Contracters Coordination meeting, Dept. of Energy, Dearborn, MI.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Chem Mkt Reporter, April 8, 1991.

  19. Davison, B. H. (1988), Oak Ridge National Laboratory, private communication.

  20. Kenyon, C. P., Prior, B. A., and van Vuurei H. J. J. (1986),Enzyme Microb. Technol. 8, 461–464.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Mills, A. K. (1967),Aspects of Yeast Metabolism, F. A. Davis Co., Philadelphia, PA, pp. 62–64.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Rose, A. H. (1978),Economic Microbiology, vol. 1:Alcoholic Beverages, pp 25–26; Vol. 2Primary Products of Metabolism, pp 415–418, Academic, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Prescott, S. C. and Dunn, C. G. (1959),Industrial Microbiology, 3rd ed., McGraw Hill, New York, pp. 128–147.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Schwandt, W. R. (1988), Impurities in fermentation ethanol, A. E. Staley Mfg. Co., private communication.

  25. Montenecourt, B. S. (1985),Biology of Industrial Microorganisms, A. L. Dumain and N. Solomon, eds., Ben Cummings, pp. 261–289.

  26. Swings, J. and Deley, J. (1977),Bacterial Rev. 41, 1–46.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Lewis, S. M. and Grimes, W. M. (1988), Economic time series analysis of the alcohol industry, Enzyme Technology Corp., Ashland, OH.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Cysewski, G. R. and Wilke, C. R. (1977),Biotech. & Bioeng. 19, 1125–1143.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Ghose, T. K. and Tyagi, H. D. (1979),Biotech. & Bioeng. 21, 1381–1400.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Del Rosario, E. et al. (1979),Biotech. & Bioeng. 21, 1477–1482.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Cysewski, G. R. and Wilke, C. R. (1976),Biotech. & Bioeng. 18, 1297–1313.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Bazua, C. and Wilke, C. R. (1976), Effect of alcohol concentration on kinetics of ethanol production bySaccharomyces cerevisiae, 1st Chemical Conference of North American Continent, Mexico City, Dec. 1–5.

  33. Ghose, T. K. and Tyagi, H. D. (1979),Biotech. & Bioeng. 21, 1402–1420.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Aiba, S., Shoda, M., and Nagatoni, M. (1968),Biotech. &Bioeng. 10, 846–864.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Lee, K. J. and Rogers, P. I. (1983),Chem. Eng J. 27, B31-B38.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Rogers, P. I., Lee, K. J, Skotnicki, M. C, and Tribe, D. E. (1982),Adv. Biochem. Eng. 23, 37–84.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Bajpai, P. K. and Margaritis, A. (1987),J. Ferment. Tech. 65, #2, 233–237.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Jobses, I. M. L. and Roels, J. A. (1986),Biotech. & Bioeng. 28, 534–563.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Rogers, P. I., Lee, K. J., Skotnicki, M. L., and Tribe, D. E. (1982),Adv. Biochem. eng. 23, 37–84.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Rogers, P. I., Lee, K. J., and Tribe, D. E. (1980), High productivity ethanol fermentations withZymomonas mobilis, Process Biochem, U. New South Wales, Sidney, Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Rogers, P. I., Lee, K. J., Skotnicki, M. L., and Tribe, D. E. (1981),Advances in Biotechnology, vol. 2, Young, M. M. and Robinson, C. W., eds., Permagon, pp. 189–194.

  42. McGhee, J. E., St. Julian, G., Detroy, R. W., and Bothast, R. J. (1982),Biotech. & Bioeng. 24, 1155–1163.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Kosaric, N., Ong, S. C, and Duvnjak, Z. (1982),Biotech. & Bioeng. 24, 691–701.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Skotnicki, M. L., Tribe, D. E., and Rogers, P. I. (1980),Appl. & Environ. Microbiol. 40, 7–11.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Lee, K. J., Pagan, R. J., and Rogers, P. I. (1983),Biotech. & Bioeng. 25, 659–669.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Tyagi, R. D. and Ghose, T. K. (1980),Biotech. & Bioeng. 22, 1907–1928.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Maiorella, B. L., Blanch, H. W., and Wilke, C. R. (1984),Biotech. & Bioeng. 26, 1003–1025.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Davison, B. H. and Scott, C. D. (1986),Biotech. & Bioeng. Symp. 17, 629–632.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Davison, B. H. and Scott, C. D. (1988),Appl. Biochem. Biotech. 18, 19–34.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Scott, C. D. (1983),Biotech. Bioeng. Symp. 13, 237–298.

    Google Scholar 

  51. Torres, J. L., Grethlein, H. E., and Lynd, L. R. (1988), Computer simulation of the Dartmouth process for separation of dilute ethanol/water mixtures, Symp. Biotechnology for Fuels & Chemicals, Gatlinburg, TN.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bio En-Gene-Er Associates, Inc., Wilmington, DE

    Robert M. Busche

  2. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN

    Charles D. Scott & Brian H. Davison

  3. Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH

    Lee R. Lynd

Authors
  1. Robert M. Busche
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Charles D. Scott
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Brian H. Davison
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Lee R. Lynd
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Busche, R.M., Scott, C.D., Davison, B.H. et al. Ethanol, the ultimate feedstock. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 34, 395–417 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02920564

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02920564

Index Entries

Search

Navigation