An innovative plasma pre-treatment process for lignocellulosic bio-ethanol production

Abstract

ABSTRACT In this work, glow discharge plasma pre-treatment was used for bio-ethanol production from a mixture of waste surgical cotton and cardboard. After compositional analysis, the plasma pre-treatment for the biomass mixture resulted in 68 ± 1% lignin removal and 22.2 ± 1.2% hemicellulose removal. The pre-treated mixture was analyzed using Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). After saccharification using in-house cellulases (saccharification – 43.6 ± 0.5%), bio-ethanol fermentation was performed using Saccharomyces cerevisiae RW 143. 48 ± 0.5 g/L bio-ethanol (0.4 g bio-ethanol/g of glucose) was obtained (cellulose conversion – 56.5 ± 0.2%). 90% (v/v), 180 proof pure bio-ethanol, was dehydrated to 99.9% (v/v) and 200 proof purity using molecular sieves. E-10 and E-20 blends containing 10% (v/v) and 20% (v/v) bio-ethanol with diesel fuel, respectively, were prepared. In an Internal Combustion engine, the combustion and emission characteristics were studied for E-10, E-20, and commercial diesel fuels.