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Bioethanol from Lignocellulosic Biomass

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Biotechnology in China III: Biofuels and Bioenergy

Part of the book series: Advances in Biochemical Engineering Biotechnology ((ABE,volume 128))

Abstract

China is suffering from a sustained shortage of crude oil supply, making fuel ethanol and other biofuels alternative solutions for this issue. However, taking into account the country’s large population and dwindling arable land due to rapid urbanization, it is apparent that current fuel ethanol production from grain-based feedstocks is not sustainable, and lignocellulosic biomass, particularly agricultural residues that are abundantly available in China, is the only choice for China to further expand its fuel ethanol production, provided economically viable processes can be developed. In this chapter, cutting edge progress in bioethanol is reviewed, with a focus on the understanding of the molecular structure of the feedstock, leading pretreatment technologies, enzymatic hydrolysis of the cellulose component and strategies for the co-fermentation of the C5 and C6 sugars with engineered microorganisms. Finally, process integration and optimization is addressed with a case study on the COFCO Corporation’s pilot plant, and challenges and perspectives for commercial production of bioethanol are highlighted.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116023, China

    Xin-Qing Zhao, Li-Han Zi & Feng-Wu Bai

  2. COFCO Corporation, COFCO Fortune Plaza, No.8 Chaoyangmen S. Street, Beijing, 100020, China

    Hai-Long Lin, Xiao-Ming Hao & Guo-Jun Yue

  3. School of Chemical Engineering and Laboratory of Renewable Resources Engineering, Potter Engineering Center, Purdue University, 500 Central Drive, West Lafayette, IN, 47907-2022, USA

    Nancy W. Y. Ho

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  1. Xin-Qing Zhao
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  2. Li-Han Zi
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  3. Feng-Wu Bai
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  4. Hai-Long Lin
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  5. Xiao-Ming Hao
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  7. Nancy W. Y. Ho
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Correspondence to Feng-Wu Bai .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Bioscience & Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China, People's Republic

    Feng-Wu Bai

  2. School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116023, China, People's Republic

    Chen-Guang Liu

  3. , State Key Lab of Mat.-Or. Chem. Eng., Nanjing University, 5 Xinmofan Rd., Nanjing, 210009, China, People's Republic

    He Huang

  4. , Lab. of Renewable Resources Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, 47907, USA

    George T Tsao

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Zhao, XQ. et al. (2011). Bioethanol from Lignocellulosic Biomass. In: Bai, FW., Liu, CG., Huang, H., Tsao, G. (eds) Biotechnology in China III: Biofuels and Bioenergy. Advances in Biochemical Engineering Biotechnology, vol 128. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/10_2011_129

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