Production of Anhydrous Ethanol from Pretreated Napier Grass

Authors

  • Thirawat Mueansichai Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, Pathumthani, Thailand
  • Chaiyapop Siraworakul Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, Pathumthani, Thailand
  • Chanikan Thongpan Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, Pathumthani, Thailand
  • Namthip Wandee Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, Pathumthani, Thailand
  • Peerawat Suyatar Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, Pathumthani, Thailand
  • Phattharamat Thiamngoen Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Rajamangala University of Technology Suvarnabhumi, Nonthaburi, Thailand

Keywords:

Ethanol, Napier Grass, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Crude Enzyme, Molecular Sieve

Abstract

Napier grass Pakchong 1 (Pennisetum purpureum x Pennisetum americanum) was used as a raw material for the production of ethanol. Trichoderma reesei TISTR3080 and cellulase enzyme were used for the hydrolysis, while Saccharomyces cerevisiae TISTR5606 was used for the fermentation. Ethanol was separated from the liquid hydrolysate by vacuum distillation at -80 kPa. Adsorption of the ethanol-water mixture was performed to increase the purity of ethanol. Optimal condition for the production of ethanol was also determined, with the ratio of S. cerevisiae (2, 4, 6, and 8 colonies) to 1 plate of T. reesei and cellulase enzyme (1.50 mL/g substrate) as the parameters. Optimal condition was noted when using 4 colonies of S. cerevisiae of to 1 plate of T. reesei. At such condition, ethanol at the concentration of 12.34% by volume was obtained. The vacuum distillation process was able to increase the ethanol concentration to 95.06% by volume. For adsorption of the ethanol-water mixture, molecular sieves types 3A and 4A were loaded at 190 g into a column; evaporation temperature of 80 °C, column temperature of 85 °C at 1 atm and the feed concentration of 95.06% by volume were used. When the feed flow rate was varied at 2.50 5.00 7.50 and 10.00 mL/min, the best condition was noted when using molecular sieve type 3A at a feed flow rate of 2.50 mL/min. The highest achievable ethanol concentration was 99.43% by volume.

References

Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency, 2015, Alternative Energy Development Plan (AEDP2015), p. 1. (In Thai)

Poudyal, R., Loskot, P., Nepal, R., Parajuli, R. and Krishna, S., 2019, Mitigating the Current Energy Crisis in Nepal with Renewable Energy Sources, Australia, p. 1.

Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency, 2009, Feasibility Study on Cellulosic Ethanol Production in Commercial Scale, pp. 2-3. (In Thai)

Tongpoothorn, W., Chuabsap, N. and Siphiwphak, C., 2018, “The Study of Effective Method to Enhance Reducing Sugar Content for Bioethanol Production from Napier Grass Stem,” Journal of Ramkhamhaeng University, 21 (2), p. 48. (In Thai)

Phitsuwan, P., Sakka, K. and Ratanakhanokchai, K., 2016, “Structural Changes and Enzymatic Response of Napier Grass (Pennisetum purpureum) Stem Induced by Alkaline Pretreatment,” Bioresource Technology, p. 248.

Mueansichai, T., Thiamngoen, P., Siraworakun, C., Klanvaree, T., Sitthikwa, S. and Assabumrungrat, S., 2021, “Bioethanol Production Process from Napier Grass,” TIChE2021, Suranaree University of Techology, p. 1055.

Thanapimmetha, A., Tiyanusorn, S., Srinophakun, P. and Saisriyoot, M., 2018, “Reducing Sugar Production from Empty Fruit Bunches with Enzyme Cellic ctec2,” Journal of KMUTNB, 28 (2), pp. 228-229. (In Thai)

Jantarawattana, A. and Kullamethee, P., 2016, “The Feasibility Study of Ethanol Feather Pennisetum Grass (pennisetum pedicellatum Trin.) and Residual Bamboo Shoot,” Journal of KMUTNB, 26 (1), p. 101. (In Thai)

lslam, Z., Hossain, T., Asad, M.A. and Paul, S.C., 2019, “Bioethanol Production from Banana Pseudostem by Using Separate and Cocultures of Cellulase with Saccharomyces Cerevisiae,” Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, p. 159.

Niwadwong, Ch. and Reungwiriyachai, Ch., 2012, “Production of Cellulosic Ethanol in Thailand,” KKU Science Journal, 40 (4), pp. 1073-1088. (In Thai)

Siwarasak, P., 2003, “The Study of Ethanol Fermentation from Reducing Sugar of Rice Straws by Enzymatic Hydrolysis with T. reesei,” Journal of Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, p. 1 (In Thai)

Mahawichat, S. and Reungwiriyachai, C., 2012, "Lignocellulosic Ethanol Production from Hydrolysate of Cassava Stems via Batch Fermentation with Saccharomyces Cerevisiae TISTR 5048," Veridian E-Journal, p. 429. (In Thai)

Yimwaree, N. and Triratnasirichai, K., 2011, “Distillation Ethanol From Sweet Sorghum by Reflux Distillation,” KKU Research Journal (Graduate Studies), 11 (4), p. 25. (In Thai)

Hayook, C. and Teppitoon, W., 2004, “Ethanol-Water Mixture Separation by Adsorption,” The 42nd Conference of Kasetsart University, Kasetsart University, pp. 351-358. (In Thai)

Kongkeitkajorn, M.B., Sae-Kuay, C. and Reungsang, A., 2020, “Evaluation of Napier Grass for Bioethanol Production through a Fermentation Process,” Processes, 8 (5), p. 567.

Mekala, M., Neerudi, B., Are, P.R., Surakasi, R., Manikandan, G., Kakara, V.R. and Dhumal, A.A., 2022, "Water Removal from an Ethanol-Water Mixture at Azeotropic Condition by Adsorption Technique," Adsorption Science and Technology, 2022 (8374471), 10 p.

Downloads

Published

2023-03-31

How to Cite

Mueansichai, T., Siraworakul, C., Thongpan, C., Wandee, N., Suyatar, P., & Thiamngoen, P. (2023). Production of Anhydrous Ethanol from Pretreated Napier Grass. Science and Engineering Connect, 46(1), 55–66. retrieved from https://ph04.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/SEC/article/view/10159

Issue

Vol. 46 No. 1 (2023): January - March

Section

Research Article

License

Copyright (c) 2023 King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Any form of contents contained in an article published in Science and Engineering Connect, including text, equations, formula, tables, figures and other forms of illustrations are copyrights of King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi. Reproduction of these contents in any format for commercial purpose requires a prior written consent of the Editor of the Journal.