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Title: RESEARCH CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR CELLULOSE CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY IN A DRY MILL PATHWAY

Author
item LADISCH, MICHAEL - PURDUE UNIV
item TYNER, WALLY - PURDUE UNIV
item MOSIER, NATHAN - PURDUE UNIV
item Cotta, Michael
item Dien, Bruce
item BLASCHEK, HANS - UNIV OF IL
item DALE, BRUCE - MICHIGAN ST UNIV
item SHANKS, BRENT - IOWA ST UNIV
item PETERSEN, GENE - DOE

Submitted to: Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals Symposium Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/3/2006
Publication Date: 5/3/2006
Citation: Ladisch, M., Tyner, W., Mosier, N., Cotta, M.A., Dien, B.S., Blaschek, H., Dale, B., Shanks, B., Petersen, G. 2006. Research challenges and opportunities for cellulose conversion technology in a dry mill pathway [abstract]. Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals. p. 48.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Most of the current expansion in ethanol production capacity is attributable to newly constructed dry grind facilities that convert corn into fuel ethanol. These facilities process the corn into ethanol, with the remaining solid material, known as distillers’ grains (DG) or distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), being marketed as a value-added animal feed. For each bushel of corn fermented to ethanol, approximately 17 lb of DDGS is produced. Thus, DDGS production is expanding as dry grind ethanol production expands. As a consequence, the Midwest Consortium is examining methods of adding value to the distillers’ grains by processing them further to produce ethanol from the cellulose and hemicellulose, which also results in higher protein residual. An overview of the Midwest Consortium and its work, as well as technical challenges in applying pretreatment, enzyme, and fermentation advances to processing of DG into both 5- and 6-carbon sugars, ethanol, and other value-added products, as well as the fit of these new processes into existing dry mills currently under construction, will be discussed. An economic framework for assessing the impact of changes in a dry grind operation due to enhanced DG utilization will also be summarized in this presentation.