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CONTINUOUS ETHANOL FERMENTATION AT 70 C FROM STRAW AND STRAW HYDROLYSATES.

Objetivo

THE WHEAT-STRAW HYDROLYSIS IS EFFECTIVELY A WASTE-STREAM FROM THE ICI HYDROLYSIS PROCESS. OUR PROCESS SHOULD HAVE IMMEDIATE APPLICATIONS TO PROPOSED DEMONSTRATION PLANTS FOR THE ICI PROCESS BASED ON SUGAR-CANE BAGASSE. THIS HAS HUGE IMPACTS FOR MANY DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. WITHIN THE EEC IT COULD HAVE IMMEDIATE APPLICATION TO PAPER-PULPING WASTES.
IF EEC POLICY MOVES TOWARDS THE ABOLITION OF STRAW-BURNING, THE ICI PROCESS + OUR PROCESS WOULD PROVIDE A CHEAP ROUTE TO FUEL ETHANOL.

A MUTANT STRAIN OF A THERMOPHILIC FACULTATIVE ANAEROBE, BACILLUS STEAROTHERMOPHILUS STRAIN LLD-15, HAS BEEN SHOWN TO MAKE ETHANOL FROM SUCROSE AT 70 C IN YIELDS AND AT RATES EQUIVALENT TO YEASTS AT 30C. HOWEVER, IT ALSO PRODUCES HIGH YIELDS OF ETHANOL FROM XYLOSE AND FROM A CRUDE ACID HYDROLYSATE OF WHEAT-STRAW THAT IS RICH IN LIGNIN AND PENTOSES, WHICH YEAST CANNOT FERMENT. THE PROPERTIES OF THE ORGANISM LEND THEMSELVES TO A NOVEL CONTINUOUS CULTURE SYSTEM IN WHICH ETHANOL IS PRODUCED ANAEROBICALLY BY NON-GROWING CELLS, REMOVED BY VACUUM FLASH EVAPORATION AND THE WASTE PRODUCTS USED IN AN AEROBIC STAGE TO CREATE NEW CATALYTIC BIOMASS THAT IS RECYCLED TO THE ANAEROBIC REACTOR. THIS SYSTEM WILL BE CONSTRUCTED AND OPTIMISED ON WHEAT-STRAW HYDROLYSATE.IN PARALLEL, MUTATIONS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE YIELDS AND PRODUCTIVITY WILL BE SELECTED.

Tema(s)

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Convocatoria de propuestas

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Régimen de financiación

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinador

IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINE
Aportación de la UE
Sin datos
Dirección
South Kensington Campus
LONDON
Reino Unido

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Coste total
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