Evaluation and Optimisation of the Product Removal by Gas-Strippen during the Production of Bioethanol

01.12.2005 - 31.12.2009
Forschungsförderungsprojekt
The production of ethanol from agricultural feedstock by fermentation is a well known process. In the last few years a growing importance of ethanol in the area of liquid fuels could be observed. This importance is strengthened by the increasing oil price as well as the growing awareness of CO2-neutrality and recommendations of the European Union to increase the use of liquid biofuels from renewable sources. Besides feedstock costs, the energy demand of ethanol separation and purification is of great importance during the production of bioethanol. Additionally to the optimization of the total energy demand of bioethanol production and the use of energy from renewable sources, also alternative processes for product separation are investigated involving process simulation. Gas-stripping of ethanol from fermentation broth is an interesting alternative to product removal using distillation. By working below the boiling point, energy demand during ethanol purification decreases. Gas stripping although means a real in-situ product removal from fermentation broth. To fix process parameters (temperature, pressure, flow rate) and to optimize the ethanol separation by gas-stripping using process simulation, it is necessary to know the volatility of ethanol and fermentation by-products as a function of the composition of the fermentation broth. Main objective of the project is to determine the necessary data concerning ethanol volatility by experimental gas-stripping of ethanol from synthetic mixtures and real fermentation broth using CO2 and inert gases. Based on the obtained experimental data of vapor-liquid-equilibria and ethanol volatility a simulation model will be set up to enable detailed calculation and optimization of the gas-stripping process.

Personen

Projektleiter_in

Projektmitarbeiter_innen

Institut

Grant funds

  • Hochschuljubiläumsfonds der Stadt Wien (National) Anniversary Fund for Higher Education of the City of Vienna

Schlagwörter

DeutschEnglisch
Bioethanolbioethanol
Produktabtrennungdownstream processing
Gas-StrippenGas-Stripping

Publikationen