Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Fungi for Bioenergy: Development of a Sustainable Biomass Pretreatment System
EPA Grant Number: SU835708Title: Fungi for Bioenergy: Development of a Sustainable Biomass Pretreatment System
Investigators: Canam, Thomas , Flores, Hector D , Kellup, Alicia , Hill, Charles , Kalinka, Christopher , Amarh, Elizabeth , Wilson, Ellen , West, Michael , Uppari, Nalini , Ellingston, Rebecca , Kalinoski, Ryan , Gray, Samantha , Dubosky, Sharon , Gamino, Tobias
Institution: Eastern Illinois University
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Phase: I
Project Period: August 15, 2014 through August 14, 2015
Project Amount: $14,892
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2014) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , P3 Challenge Area - Sustainable and Healthy Communities , P3 Challenge Area - Chemical Safety , P3 Awards , Sustainable and Healthy Communities
Objective:
Dwindling fossil fuel reserves threaten to deprive civilization of adequate energy in the future, which has sparked tremendous innovation and development of alternative energy technology. In particular, biofuels derived from biomass are expected to contribute significantly to the renewable energy portfolio of the United States. The primary objective of the proposed project is to explore the efficacy of using a common white-rot fungus,Trametes versicolor, as a natural pretreatment agent for residual biomass (corn stover) and dedicated crops (switchgrass, Miscanthus). This pretreatment approach was shown to be effective at the laboratory scale; however, this strategy must be explored at the demonstration scale to be acknowledged as a viable, safe and sustainable alternative to traditional thermochemical biomass pretreatment techniques that may pose environmental risks. Accordingly, the Phase I project identified the following objectives:
- Explore the use of a benign, white-rot fungus (Trametes versicolor) as a biological pretreatment agent on agricultural waste (corn stover) and dedicated bioenergy crops (switchgrass and Miscanthus).
- Explore the efficacy of biological pretreatment of biomass at a demonstration scale.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
At the time of the project report submission, our team was approximately halfway through the Phase I funding period. At the end of February of 2015, our team had reached significant project milestones, including: (1) construction of 24 tumbling vessels for fungal pretreatment, (2) acquisition and sterilization of biomass (corn stover, Miscanthus and switchgrass), (3) development of protocols for large-scale fungal growth, and (4) inoculation of biomass with fungal cultures. During the final six months of the project, our team will continue our fungal pretreatment trials with Miscanthus. As originally proposed during Phase I, we will analyze the pretreated biomass for important biofuel processing parameters, such as lignin extraction efficiency and theoretical ethanol yield. The demonstration-scale volumes of material will also allow our team to conduct gasification experiments using EIU's laboratory-scale gasifier and dedicated gas chromatography system.
Conclusions:
Our future recommendations regarding the types of biomass suitable for fungal pretreatment are:
- Corn stover should not be used as a substrate forTrametes versicolorgiven the inability for this fungus to establish growth on this biomass under ideal conditions.
- Alternative sterilization methods to steam treatment should be explored in an effort to prevent contamination of the biomass.
Our future recommendations for overcoming the challenges associated with maintaining optimal growth include:
- Vessels should be used that are tightly sealed yet do not restrict air flow, in an effort to minimize water loss.
- Automated humidity control of the treatment containers should be employed.
- The surface area-to-volume ratio should be maximized as a means to prevent oxygen starvation and to simulate natural growth conditions forT. versicolor.
Journal Articles on this Report : 1 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
Other project views: | All 1 publications | 1 publications in selected types | All 1 journal articles |
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Type | Citation | ||
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Kalinoski R, Flores H, Thapa S, Tuegel E, Bilek M, Reyes-Mendez E, West M, Dumonceaux T, Canam T. Pretreatment of Hardwood and Miscanthus with Trametes versicolor for Bioenergy Conversion and Densification Strategies. APPLIED BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY 2017;183(4):1401-1413 |
SU835708 (Final) |
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Supplemental Keywords:
cellulose, dedicated crop, lignin, saprophyteRelevant Websites:
Center for Clean Energy Research and Education (CENCERE) Exit
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.