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Pretreatment of Corn Stover by Low Moisture Anhydrous Ammonia (LMAA) in a Pilot-Scale Reactor and Bioconversion to Fuel Ethanol and Industrial Chemicals

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Abstract

Corn stover (CS) adjusted to 50, 66, and 70 % moisture was pretreated by the low moisture anhydrous ammonia (LMAA) process in a pilot-scale ammoniation reactor. After ammoniation, the 70 % moisture CS was treated at 90 and 100 °C whereas the others were treated at 90 °C only. The 70 % moisture pretreated CS then was subjected to a storage study under non-sterile conditions for 3 months. It was found that storage time did not have significant effects on the compositions of the pretreated materials and their hydrolysis by commercial enzymes. The 70 % moisture CS treated at 90 °C was used for preparation of a mix sugar hydrolysate (MSH) using combination of cellulase and xylanase. The MSH was used to prepare a corn mash at 9.5 wt% solid then subjected to ethanol fermentation by Escherichia coli KO11. The 66 % moisture CS treated at 90 °C was hydrolyzed with xylanase to make a xylose-rich hydrolysate (XRH), which was subsequently used for butyric acid fermentation by Clostridium tyrobutyricum. The resultant cellulose-enriched residue was hydrolyzed with cellulase to make a glucose-rich hydrolysate (GRH), which was subsequently used for succinic acid fermentation by E. coli AFP184.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their thanks the North Central Sun Grant Office for the financial support, DuPont Industrial Biosciences and Novozymes for providing the enzyme products, and Dr. Kurt Rosentrater of Iowa State University for obtaining the corn stover. The valuable assistance of Mr. Jacob Armiger and Mr. Paul Giardina on the experimental effort and sample analysis are also greatly appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sustainable Biofuels and Co-products Research Unit, Eastern Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Wyndmoor, PA, 19038, USA

    Nhuan P. Nghiem & Gerard E. Senske

  2. Department of Environmental Engineering, Kongju National University, Cheonandae-Ro, 1223-24, Cheonan, Chungnam, 31080, Korea

    Tae Hyun Kim

Authors
  1. Nhuan P. Nghiem
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  2. Gerard E. Senske
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  3. Tae Hyun Kim
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Correspondence to Nhuan P. Nghiem.

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Mention of trade names or commercial products in this article is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA is an equal employment provider and employer.

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Nghiem, N.P., Senske, G.E. & Kim, T.H. Pretreatment of Corn Stover by Low Moisture Anhydrous Ammonia (LMAA) in a Pilot-Scale Reactor and Bioconversion to Fuel Ethanol and Industrial Chemicals. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 179, 111–125 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-016-1982-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-016-1982-2

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