Bioethanol production from tuber crops using fermentation technology: a review

Bioethanol, an alcohol produced by fermentation of plant biomass containing starch and sugars by micro-organisms, considered as a dominant form of fuel for future. Production of this renewable fuel, especially from starchy materials such as tuber crops, holds a remarkable potential to meet the future energy demand because of its high production and comparitively less demand for use as food and fodder. This review focuses on the world bioethanol production scenario from various tuber crops, namely cassava, sweet potato, potato, yam, aroids, sugar beet, etc., fermentation techniques and micro-organisms used in fermentation process along with its future prospects. The advances in metabolic pathway engineering and genetic engineering techniques have led to the development of micro-organisms capable of efficiently converting biomass sugars into ethanol. Several biotechnological tools that are also available for the improvement of microorganisms to meet the harsh environments typically met with certain industrial fermentation process are also discussed.     

蔗渣纤维素乙醇的预处理技术研究进展

从蔗渣的物化特性及预处理的必要性出发,综述了近年来国内外预处理蔗渣方面发展的不同技术途径(包括物理法、化学法、生物法和联合法)及其研究进展,对各种技术的作用效果和特点进行了总结和对比分析,并对蔗渣预处理技术的发展方向予以展望。蔗渣作为糖厂的主要副产物,具有量大、集中且纤维含量高等特点,是生产第二代生物乙醇的重要潜在原料之一,对其进行有效预处理是利用其制取生物乙醇的关键,直接影响着后续的酶解糖化和乙醇发酵效果。     

发酵抑制物对葡萄糖发酵产乙醇的影响

在纤维素乙醇研究中,木质纤维原料在酸性预处理过程中会产生甲酸、乙酸、乙酰丙酸、糠醛和5-羟甲基糠醛等发酵抑制物,这些发酵抑制物会影响葡萄糖发酵生产乙醇的收率。本文考察了发酵液中各种发酵抑制物含量对高温超级酿酒酵母发酵乙醇收率的影响。研究结果表明,多种发酵抑制物的协同作用对乙醇发酵的影响要高于单一种类发酵抑制物对乙醇发酵的影响。发酵液中发酵抑制物总量一般控制在3.0g/L以内时,对葡萄糖发酵生产乙醇的抑制作用不明显。     

Emerging role of nanobiocatalysts in hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass leading to sustainable bioethanol production

Catalytic conversion (hydrolysis) of carbohydrate polymers present in the lignocellulosic biomass into fermentable sugars is a key step in the production of bioethanol. Although, acid and enzymatic catalysts are conventionally used for the catalysis of various lignocellulosic biomass, recently application of immobilized enzymes (biocatalysts) have been considered as the most promising approach. Immobilization of different biocatalysts such as cellulase, β-glucosidase, cellobiose, xylanase, laccase, etc. on support materials including nanomaterials to form nanobiocatalyst increases catalytic efficacy and stability of enzymes. Moreover, immobilization of biocatalysts on magnetic nanoparticles (magnetic nanobiocatalysts) facilitates easy recovery and reuse of biocatalysts. Therefore, utilization of nanobiocatalysts for catalysis of lignocellulosic biomass is helpful for the development of cost-effective and ecofriendly approach. In this review, we have discussed various conventional methods of hydrolysis and their limitations. Special emphasis has been made on nanobiocatalysts used for hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass. Moreover, the other most important aspects, like nanofiltration of biomass, conversion of lignocellulose to nanocellulose, and toxicological issues associated with application of nanomaterials are also discussed.     

可高效降解甜高粱秸秆产糖的纤维素酶研究

为评价实验室自制的纤维素酶对甜高粱秸秆纤维素的降解效果,以5种不同发酵工艺所产的5组纤维素酶和商品纤维素酶为研究对象,通过对各纤维素酶的滤纸酶活、分解微晶纤维素所产的还原糖量及对甜高粱秸秆中纤维素转化率的检测可知,在5组自制的纤维素酶中,纤维素酶Ⅱ的滤纸酶活最高（1 364.84 U/mL）,但纤维素酶Ⅴ对微晶纤维素的分解能力最强,并在50 ℃,48 h时其对甜高粱秸秆纤维素的转化率最高,达到11.69%,表明纤维素酶Ⅴ可高效分解甜高粱生物质材料转化成可发酵的糖,在发酵生物乙醇和高附加值的化工产品方面极具潜力。     

向日葵籽壳湿氧化预处理与同步糖化发酵制生物乙醇

以食用型向日葵籽壳为原料,采用湿氧化预处理和同步糖化发酵法制备生物乙醇,并通过正交实验确定了二者最佳工艺条件。结果表明,前者最佳工艺条件为:反应温度190℃,氧气压强1.2 MPa,过筛干燥后的向日葵籽壳/混合溶液(质量体积比)1∶10,时间15 min;后者最佳工艺条件为:反应温度40℃,纤维素酶用量30 U/g,p H值4.8,酵母接种量8%。在此条件下,纤维素转化率为83.66%,光密度为0.995,含糖量为243.3 mg,生物乙醇收率为18.04%。     

基于14C同位素丰度的乙醇汽油中生物乙醇含量的测定

将煤制乙醇与不同来源的生物乙醇按不同体积比加入到汽油中配制成乙醇汽油。考察了采用加速器质谱(AMS)测定放射性同位素14C丰度区分煤制乙醇与生物乙醇的适用性、测定乙醇汽油中生物乙醇含量的准确性以及在国内外4个加速器质谱实验室的再现性。结果表明：利用14C同位素丰度计算生物基含量的方法可以区分煤制乙醇等化石基燃料与生物乙醇等生物基燃料;采用该方法测定一系列乙醇汽油样品中生物基含量,测定值与根据生物乙醇实际添加量计算的理论值的偏差不超过1百分点(绝对值);在4个加速器质谱实验室测定数据的再现性偏差不超过4百分点(绝对值)。     

Optimizing ethanol and bioelectricity production in sugarcane biorefineries in Brazil

In sugarcane biorefineries, the lignocellulosic portion of the sugarcane biomass (i.e. bagasse and cane trash) can be used as fuel for electricity production and/or feedstock for second generation (2G) ethanol. This study presents a techno-economic analysis of upgraded sugarcane biorefineries in Brazil, aiming at utilizing surplus bagasse and cane trash for electricity and/or ethanol production. The study investigates the trade-off on sugarcane biomass use for energy production: bioelectricity versus 2G ethanol production. The BeWhere mixed integer and spatially explicit model is used for evaluating the choice of technological options. Different scenarios are developed to find the optimal utilization of sugarcane biomass. The study finds that energy prices, type of electricity substituted, biofuel support and carbon tax, investment costs, and conversion efficiencies are the major factors influencing the technological choice. At the existing market and technological conditions applied in the upgraded biorefineries, 300 PJ y⁻¹ 2G ethanol could be optimally produced and exported to the EU, which corresponds to 2.5% of total transport fuel demand in the EU. This study provides a methodological framework on how to optimize the alternative use of agricultural residues and industrial co-products for energy production in agro-industries considering biomass supply chains, the pattern of domestic energy demand, and biofuel trade.