From Waste Biomass to Cellulosic Ethanol by Separate Hydrolysis and Fermentation (SHF) with Trichoderma viride

Abstract

Advanced biofuels can reduce fossil fuel use and the number of harmful compounds released during combustion, by reducing the use of fossil fuels. Lignocellulosic materials, especially waste biomass, are suitable substrates for the production of advanced biofuels. Among the most expensive steps in the production of ethanol is enzyme-based hydrolysis. Using microorganisms can reduce these costs. This study investigated the effectiveness of hydrolyzing three waste lignocellulosic biomass materials (barley straw, oak shavings, spent grains) into ethanol, after biological pretreatment with Trichoderma viride fungi. The number of fermentable sugars obtained from each substrate was subjected to preliminary study, and the correlation between the temperature and fungal activity in the decomposition of lignocellulosic materials was determined. Ethanol was produced by the separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF) method. It was found that not all lignocellulosic biomass is suitable to decomposition and hydrolysis in the presence of T. viride. Regardless of the process temperature, the average enzymatic activity of fungi (activity index) ranged from 1.25 to 1.31. 94 mL of distillate, with a 65% (v/v) ethanol concentration produced by the hydrolysis and fermentation of the sugars released from the barley straw.