Improvements during the past decade in cellulolytic enzymes for conversion of cellulosic and lignocellulosic materials to glucose and by fermentation to ethanol and other products have led to development of a practical commercial process. A pilot plant based on utilization of the advanced Trichoderma reesei fungal enzyme systems available, utilized in a fed-batch simultaneous saccharification and fermentation system, has been operated successfully at an eastern pulp and paper mill. Successive improvements in techniques and operating conditions for this pilot plant, with a capacity of 1 t/d feedstock input, has led to production of ethanol with conversions of 80-90% of theoretical, based on cellulose content of the feedstock. With the data and knowledge in hand, this technology is now ready for use in a proposed demonstration facility with a nominal capacity of 50-100 t/d of feedstock. Projected economics are presented for proposed commercial facilities processing up to 500 t/d of cellulosic wastes.
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