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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Florence, South Carolina » Coastal Plain Soil, Water and Plant Conservation Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #321650
Title: Thermo-chemical and biological conversion potential of various biomass feedstocks to ethanol

Author
item Ro, Kyoung
item DIETENBERGER, MARK - Forest Service (FS)
item Bauer, Philip

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/29/2015
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The goal of this study is to evaluate the potential and the economy of producing ethanol from gasification-fermentation of various biomass feedstocks. The biomass feedstocks include winter cover crops (wheat, rye, clover, hairy betch), summer cover crop (sunhemp), chicken litter, and woody biomass. Based on chemical elemental compositions of these biomass feedstocks and proposed gasification reaction temperature, synthesis gas yields are calculated using thermochemical equilibrium computer models(Stanjan, HSC Chemistry, and proprietary calculations from individual thermochemical conversion companies). The synthesis gas is then cooled through a heat exchanger and introduced to a fermentation reactor. Biochemical reactions reported in the literature are used to estimate ethanol yields. The costs of producing ethanol from this model will be compared with grain and cellulosic ethanol.