Conversion of high sugar grasses to alcohol based transport fuel (GRASSOHOL)

Completed

Renewable Energy Sources(Bio-Energy, Production of transport biofuels (incl. Production from wastes))

Basic and strategic applied research

BIOLOGICAL AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES (Biological Sciences)
BIOLOGICAL AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES (Agriculture, Veterinary and Food Science)

Not Cross-cutting

Dr J Gallagher
IBERS
Aberystwyth University

Research Grant

BBSRC

01 April 2009

30 September 2012

42 months

£269,257

Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology

Wales

LINK: Renewable Materials (RM)

Dr J Gallagher, IBERS, Aberystwyth University

Prof M Abberton, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Nigeria
Dr A Cairns, IBERS, Aberystwyth University
Dr IS Donnison, IBERS, Aberystwyth University
Professor MK Theodorou, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University

Objectives not supplied

Current biofuel generation in the UK will not meet the UK's Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation. The production of bioethanol from 'first generation' crops (e.g. maize, wheat, etc.) in the UK is limited by the requirement for arable land (primarily used for food production) and high energy inputs. Grasses, which comprise up to 70% of UK agricultural land, offer a potential alternative. Perennial ryegrass, which can achieve similar biomass yields to other lignocellulosic biofuel crops, contains high quantities of readily available water-soluble sugars, has high fibre digestibility, low lignin content, low annual input requirements while contributing to the rural landscape, maintaining biodiversity and environmentally sensitive landscapes. Our objective is to provide an environmentally and economically viable feedstock for the production of bioethanol using IBER's large collection of ryegrass germplasm. The legume, white clover, will be included in grass swards to provide nitrogen and minimize green house gas emissions associated with artificial fertilizer. From the grass, two separate feedstocks will be produced; a water soluble carbohydrate rich liquid fraction and a high dry-matter stable lignocellulosic fraction. Procedures for handling, preserving/stabilizing and transporting these feedstocks will be assessed. The utilization of the full range of sugars for fermentation to ethanol will be achieved by using an appropriate combination of pre-treatments, enzymes, yeast and an ethanol producing thermophilic micro-organism which can ferment a wide range of C5 and C6 sugars. Fermentation conditions will be optimized to maximize ethanol production both at laboratory and pilot scale. The carbon and energy balance as well as the economic viability of these processes will be evaluated. Data generated by this programme will provide information for accurate comparisons with other crops used in bioethanol production.

30/09/13