Wet torrefaction of lignocellulosic biomass for the production of butanol

Abstract

Lignocellulosic biomass is most abundant renewable resource suitable for continuous supply of biofuel. Ethanol and butanol acquired a dominant place in the partial replacement or blending with gasoline. Butanol could be produced through effective treatment which makes a hope for future energy. Wet torrefaction is pretreatment which enables dissociation of lignocelluolosic fibers and enhances the enzyme saccharification. This work intended to explain the pretreatment effects of acid torrefaction on sugarcane bagasse on the sugars yield. The present study investigates the effect of temperature and HCl concentration in pretreatment of sugarcane bagasse on final glucose yield in production of butanol. The maximum yield of glucose 57.82% was obtained using 200°C and 3% HCl and 30 minutes of residence time. The yield of butanol was 0.924g of butanol produced to glucose consumed.