Bioethanol production from corn residue

Currently, many developing countries are facing fuel challenges while corn stover waste remains unutilized. This study utilized excess corn Stover to make bioethanol a value added product by designing a plant that manufactures 150 tons per day of 99.5% pure cellulosic bioethanol operating over a 10-year period. The process that converted crude corn Stover to cellulosic bioethanol was evaluated for conversion via hydrolysis of lignocelluloses in the corn Stover then the cofermentation of the Carbon 5 and Carbon 6 monosaccharides obtained from the hydrolysis process. The hydrolysis process is a route to the bioethanol through 86% co-fermentation of Carbon 5 and Carbon 6 sugars obtained from the 75% saccharification of corn Stover to fermentable sugars to produce 99.5% pure cellulosic bioethanol that can be used to blend petrol. The economic analyses indicated a payback period of 1.5 years, a rate of return on investment of 86%, and a selling price of $1.10/liter for the bioethanol that indicated the feasibility of the project. Waste corn Stover to bioethanol technology can be applied as a waste management tool to meet energy demands in agro-based industries.