Abstract
A Percolation reactor for the thermochemical pre-treatment of lignocellulosic biomass as a precursor for the production of biofuel such as bioethanol from complex organic polymers is developed by this study. The reactor is designed to hold 3 kg of pulverised biomass of 0.5≤ and ≥0.3 mm particle size for each hydrolysis run, while the mass of other biomass is determined on the basis of density. It consists of a perforated material holding basket which is 0.0261 m3 in volume, a circulation pump with a power rating of 1.83 W capacity and a heating chamber containing 3 kW heater. The reactor is designed to operate within the temperature range of 20°C - 180°C, pressure≤ 45 N·m-2, and desired hydrolysis flow rate of 4.33 × 10-4 m3·S-1. The Percolation reactor produced high sugar yield with instant discharge of sugar products after each completed hydrolysis cycle, thus minimizing sugar decomposition. The efficiency of the percolation reactor was determined to be 64.4% ± 2% in the hydrolysis of biomass such as cassava peelings to simple sugar. The reactor is therefore a useful tool at converting lignocellulosic biomass to fermentable sugar with high sugar concentration in solid/liquid ratio.
Highlights
Biofuels can be produced from biomass feedstocks that are rich in simple sugar such as sucrose, fructose and galactose and starchy materials such as plant grain and tubers through direct biodegradation process called fermentation
A Percolation reactor for the thermochemical pre-treatment of lignocellulosic biomass as a precursor for the production of biofuel such as bioethanol from complex organic polymers is developed by this study
The crops that are categorized as lignocellulosic biomass include maize husk, cassava peelings, wheat straws, guinea corn husk, rice husk, millet husk, sawdust and sorghum plant, which cannot be converted directly to bioethanol but have to undergo the process of chemical hydrolysis to convert their complex organic content to fermentable simple sugar
Summary
Biofuels (bioethanol) can be produced from biomass feedstocks that are rich in simple sugar such as sucrose, fructose and galactose (e.g. sugarcane) and starchy materials such as plant grain and tubers through direct biodegradation process called fermentation. The crops that are categorized as lignocellulosic biomass include maize husk, cassava peelings, wheat straws, guinea corn husk, rice husk, millet husk, sawdust and sorghum plant, which cannot be converted directly to bioethanol but have to undergo the process of chemical hydrolysis to convert their complex organic content to fermentable simple sugar. Many researchers have reported on the use of various reactor such as Stir-tank, Plug flow and Batch reactors for the hydrolysis of biomass. Unlike the batch and plug flow reactors, the designed percolation reactor does not require solid or liquid separation interface as the solid particles placed in the percolation baskets, do not flow with the liquid as in other reactors. Unlike the batch and plug flow reactors, this process does not need a solid or liquid separation [4] as the solid are placed in the percolation baskets and do not flow with the liquid. Percolation reactors were used in most of the old wood sugar processes such as the Scholler process, the Madison wood sugar process, and some of the Soviet processes [4]
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