Potential Cellulosic Ethanol Production from Organic Residues of Agro-Based Industries in Nepal

Ram Kailash P Yadav,Chandra P Pokhrel,Rupesh K Yadawa,Arbindra Timilsina

doi:10.1155/2014/305695

Abstract

With the objective of exploring the potential of bioethanol production from lignocellulosic wastes from major agro-based industries in Nepal, four types of major industries using raw materials from agriculture are selected as sources of lignocellulosic residues. They include a sugar industry, a paper industry, a tobacco industry, and a beer industry. Data from secondary/primary sources were used to record organic residues from these industries and estimates were made of potential production of bioethanol from them. About 494892.263 tons of dry bagasse could be produced if the total production of sugarcane in Nepal is taken to the sugar industry which means that about 138569.833 KL of bioethanol could be produced (in the year 2011/12). Similarly, the dry biomass residue produced from the paper mill is 86.668 ton/year that could produce 24.267 KL of bioethanol. The lignocellulosic residue from tobacco field in Nepal is approximately 18.826 ton/year that has potential to produce 5.836 KL of bioethanol. The dry biomass residue produced in beer industry amounts to 155.0596 ton/year that can yield about 63.5744 KL of bioethanol. It is estimated that about 57,841.3754 KL of bioethanol could be produced when these residues are fully utilized in producing bioethanol. If E10 is used in total import of petrol, about 20246.7 KL of bioethanol could be utilized, and the rest 37,594.6754 KL of bioethanol could be utilized for many other purposes.

Highlights

The world’s economy today highly depends on fossil energy sources of which crude oils have been the major resource to meet the increased energy demand [1]
One renewable solution concerning the depletion of fossil fuels and the atmospheric pollution derived from their combustion is the use of biomass
The present study aims to assess the prospect of bioethanol production in Nepal

Summary

Introduction

The world’s economy today highly depends on fossil energy sources of which crude oils have been the major resource to meet the increased energy demand [1]. The utilization of these depletable sources in the long run is not considered to be sustainable. Growing environmental concerns over the use and depletion of nonrenewable fuel sources, together with the increasing price of oil and instability in the oil market, have recently stimulated interest in optimizing fermentation process for large scale production of alternative fuels such as bioethanol [7]

Methods

Results

Conclusion