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Effects of Enzyme Loading, Densification, and Storage on AFEX-Pretreated Biomass for Ethanol Production

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Abstract

Corn stover, switchgrass, and prairie cordgrass were treated with an ammonia fiber expansion (AFEX) process and a novel densification method (ComPAKco). Separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF) and simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) were used to evaluate impacts of densification. ComPAKco densification is characterized by low-temperature and low-energy requirements, resulting in compacted biomass briquettes (CBB) 1–2 cm square, with a bulk density of 380–460 kg/m3. Feedstocks were evaluated before and following AFEX pretreatment, after densification, and after storage. Two enzyme doses were tested. The low rate used 5 filter paper units (FPU) of Spezyme CP (cellulase) and 21.3 cellobiase units (CBU) of Novozyme 188 (aka NS50010 [β-glucosidase]) per gram of glucan. The high dosage rate was three times higher and resulted in 40–56 % and 33–82 % higher ethanol yields with SHF and SSF, respectively. Trials revealed no adverse effect on ethanol yield following densification or 6-month storage of densified, AFEX-pretreated feedstocks.

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Acknowledgments

The contributions of Bruce Dale’s research group at Michigan State with the ammonia fiber expansion (AFEX) process are gratefully acknowledged. We are thankful to Jim Flaherty at Federal Machine Co. (Fargo, ND) for feedstock densification. Our appreciation extends to Poet Biorefining – Big Stone, for allowing use of their lab facilities to complete this work. Recognition goes to Chad Folk for providing assistance with the sample analysis. This research was supported by funding from the North Central Regional Sun Grant Center at South Dakota State University through a grant provided by the US Department of Energy office of Biomass Programs under award number DE-FG36-08GO88073.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology and Microbiology, South Dakota State University, Alfred Dairy Science Hall 213, P.O. Box 2104A, Brookings, SD, 57007, USA

    Gwen Biersbach & William R. Gibbons

  2. Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, North Dakota State University, 1221 Albrecht Blvd., Fargo, ND, 58102, USA

    Binod Rijal & Scott W. Pryor

Authors
  1. Gwen Biersbach
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  2. Binod Rijal
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  3. Scott W. Pryor
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  4. William R. Gibbons
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Correspondence to William R. Gibbons.

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Biersbach, G., Rijal, B., Pryor, S.W. et al. Effects of Enzyme Loading, Densification, and Storage on AFEX-Pretreated Biomass for Ethanol Production. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 177, 1530–1540 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-015-1833-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-015-1833-6

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