REALITIES AND PROSPECTS FOR INTENSIFICATION OF BIOETHANOL PRODUCTION DUE TO THE USE OF DISCRETE-PULSE ENERGY INPUT

Abstract

The development of the biofuel industry and the production of bioethanol and using it as a fuel in the world in general and in Ukraine in particular are analyzed in the paper. Bioethanol is mostly produced from sugar- and starch-containing raw materials. It is noted that bioethanol is obtained mainly from molasses in Ukraine. Molasses is a by-product of sugar beet production. The prospects of second-generation bioethanol production made from unfit for human consumption lignocellulosic biomass such as agricultural by-products, forestry residues, municipal waste are considered. Pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass is the main task in bioethanol production from such raw materials. Partial or complete hydrolysis of hemicellulose and the conversion of crystalline cellulose into an amorphous state are required to destroy the strong structure of the lignocellulosic complex and remove lignin for further processing. The method of Discrete-Pulse Energy Input was used to intensify the production of bioethanol from lignocellulosic biomass. The method allows shortening the duration of pretreatment, hydrolysis and fermentation, increasing the amount of reducing substances in the wort, reducing energy consumption and generally making this technology more economically attractive. The universal heat and mass exchange installation in order to reduce energy and resource consumption in bioethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass is developed at the Institute of Engineering Thermophysics of the NAS of Ukraine. The Installation allows carrying out the processes of dispersion, dissolution, heating, hydrolysis at the same time in one apparatus.