Optimization of the energy production processes from bioethanol.

Plant biomass represents a sustainable source of fuel ethanol, single-cell protein and other industrially important chemicals. Among forms of plant biomass, lignocellulosic material is well-suited for bioethanol application because of its large-scale availability and low cost. The primary obstacle impeding more widespread utilisation of biomass is the absence of cheap processing technologies. The development of an efficient biomass-to-energy conversion process could make ligno-cellulosic bioethanol more competitive with fossil fuel. Moreover biomass ethanol could be converted into highly energy efficient vectors (i.e. synthesis gas, hydrogen) to allow easy integration with fuel cells for the production of electric power. This project aimed to develop an optimized biomass to energy process conversion using low cost agri-industrial residues for ethanol production. The research followed a multidisciplinary approach with several specific objectives: 1. Economical: study on the Veneto Region availability of low-cost biomass as feedstock for bioethanol in order to select few agri-industrial wastes to be used as a substrate in lab-scale ethanol production trials. 2. Biotechnological: improvement and optimization of the ethanol conversion efficiency from ligno-cellulosic materials through the selection of strains efficiently able to utilise biomass polysaccharides and to produce ethanol. 3. Engineering: analysis with technical and economical standpoints and optimization of the hydrogen production process from biomass via ethanol steam reforming.