The overall objective of this effort is to perform research on the development of key process innovations on two ethanol production techniques that match Mississippi’s biomass resources while developing the existing and potential research capabilities of our cluster into a nationally recognized technical resource on the secondary production of fuels and other products from biomass. The effort will be approached through a side-by-side developmental initiative focusing on both fermentation of syngas and acid hydrolyzate. This effort will provide the technical foundation for enhancing the economic viability of ethanol production from waste biomass, develop the research capability within the university infrastructure in Mississippi, and provide a bridge to existing industrial activities undertaken by some Consortium members for producing ethanol.

Fermentation of Syngas - It is proposed that a research and development effort be initiated to enhance process production rates, optimize product recovery, and provide in-sight into potential process upsets. This effort will be complementary to the current plans of ME and MSU to pursue construction of a full-scale fermentation system to match the current syngas facility. The secondary objectives for the fermentation of syngas research thrust are to:

1 - Initiate a search for more efficient fermenting organisms (microorganisms)

2 - Assess the potential bacterial contaminants that may be established within a syngas-fed fermenter

3 - Optimize mass separation techniques for both the ethanol and the low levels of acetic acid produced as a by-product

4 - Evaluate the use of trickle fermenters instead of the suspended growth units that have exclusively been used or proposed in previous work

5 - Evaluate the use of PLFA analytical techniques (GC-based) for the rapid evaluation of isolate purity and stability within operating fermenter

6 - Evaluate methanogenic biotreatment of the distillation bottoms containing the acetic acid potentially leading to the production of methane as a secondary energy source

Fermentation of Acid Hydrolyzate - Secondary objectives of the acid hydrolysis research thrust include:

1 - Enhance conversion efficiency using improved acid impregnation, depolymerization, and extraction through development of innovative processing equipment designs and determination of the resulting production kinetics

2 - Evaluate how these process enhancements impact the formation of potential inhibitory by-products within the hydrolyzates that may adversely impact downstream fermentation

3 - Improve acid recovery using innovative recovery systems through the tailoring of new ionomeric membranes with controllable morphology-transport properties

4 - Develop a robust fermentation operation that is fully compatible to the extract solutions

5 - Evaluate acid resistant extremophiles that have high ethanol production efficiencies within a low pH fermenter ecology which may reduce production costs and increase process stability.

A common goal for both processes is the development of design packages by a design team that will utilize current information and the new developments made throughout the course of this effort. The design team will meet semi-annually to discuss recent breakthroughs and identify potential new advances.