Abstract
A process for conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into acetone-butanol (ABE) involving steam explosion pretreatment of the raw material, cellulase production, enzymatic hydrolysis and acetone-butanol fermentation of hydrolysates has been developed. Procedures and scale-up of the steam-explosion pretreatment of corncobs are described. The influence of experimental parameters, time, temperature and addition of acids, on both the performance of enzymatic hydrolysis and the fermentability into ABE of the hydrolysates obtained were first studied in a batch pilot reactor. The same criteria of performance were applied in large scale development work which was completed using a continuous industrial plant (Stake II machine with a capacity of 2–4 t per h) located in the biomass conversion facilities at Soustons, France. Under optimal conditions, which were strongly dependent on the technology used, nearly quantitative hydrolysis yields could be obtained with moderate amounts of appropriate cellulase preparations.
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