1. Ethanol from Corn Stover
Brandon Landry, Sam Beck, Rheagan Chambers, Allie Williams

2. Objectives
Objective: to produce fuel-grade ethanol from corn stover on an industrial level
History
Ethanol vs Gasoline
General Flowchart
Detailed Flowchart
Pretreatment
Hydrolysis/Fermentation
Purification
Cost Analysis
Conclusion
References

3. History of Ethanol Production
1826
Ethanol first used by Samuel Morey to power an engine
1862
Union Congress imposed a $2 tax on ethanol to help pay for the Civil War.
Tax was removed and made ethanol an alternative to gasoline.
Henry Ford produced the Model-T (flex-fuel vehicle)
Demand/ Production increased due to World War II
1974
The Solar Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Act led to research and development of the conversion of biomaterials into useful fuels.
1979
Amoco Oil company began the marketing of commercial alcohol-blended fuels
1992
The Energy Policy Act defined that E-85 is an alternative to transportation fuels.
1997
Mass production of flex-fuel vehicles began

4. Ethanol vs Gasoline Ethanol Gasoline Low emission levels
Renewable fuel
Quickly biodegradable
Higher emission levels
Nonrenewable

5. General Flowchart
Figure 1. Four main steps involved in ethanol production from lignocellulosic material.

6. Detailed Flowchart .
Calcium oxide
Calcium oxide
Figure 2. Flowchart for producing ethanol from corn stover.

7. Raw Material
corn stover is the largest quantity of biomass residue in the United States
There are about 120,000,000 tons of biomass residue available for use each year which has the potential of supplying 23 billion to 53 billion liters of fuel ethanol.
70% cellulose and hemicellulose.
15-20% lignin.
A vast majority of the cost to create biofuels comes from the price to ship the raw materials.
-Only cellulose and hemicellulose can actually be converted to ethanol, but lignin can be burned to generate steam/electricity.
-corn belt: Midwest region of the US Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Indiana, iowa.
Figure 3. Image of corn stover

8. Pretreatment Physico-Chemical Pretreatment Hammer Mill
Reduces size of corn stover
Alkali Treatment
Calcium oxide
Improves biomass digestibility
Improves biomass conservation
Figure 4. Hammer mill device used to crush corn stover.

9. Hydrolysis/Fermentation
Simultaneous Saccharification and Hydrolysis (SSF)
Cost effective
Requires less energy
Produces higher yield than separate processes
Lower risk of contamination
Figure 5. Simplified flow diagram for Simultaneous Saccharification and Hydrolysis (SSF).

10. Purification Molecular Sieves Figure 6. Molecular Sieve Diagram
Used in Industry
Trap water molecules based on molecular weight properties
Graded based on internal pore diameter
Type 3Å used for ethanol dehydration
Figure 6. Molecular Sieve Diagram

11. Mass Balance
Figure 7. Mass balance of production.

12. Cost Analysis

13. Conclusion Our Ethanol Production Process Ethanol Production Benefits
Input of 57 ton/hr of corn stover produces a yield of 16 ton/hr of ethanol
Ethanol Production Benefits
Reduces greenhouse gas emission
Renewable
Creates jobs
Reduces U.S. dependency on imported oil

14. References
"Ethanol Timeline." Green Plains Renewable Energy. N.p., June Web. 23 Feb
Bothast, R. J., and M. A. Schilcher. "Biotechnological Processes for Conversion of Corn into Ethanol."  National Corn-To-Ethanol Research Center, Southern Illinois University, 14 Dec Web. 1 Mar
Taherzadeh, Mohammed J., and Keikhosro Karimi. "Enzyme Based Hydrolysis Processes for Ethanol from Lignocellulosic Materials: A Review."  North Carolina State University, 2 Nov Web. 1 Mar. 2014