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Economic evaluation of preconcentration in production of ethanol from dilute sugar solutions
Author(s) -
Zacchi G.,
Axelsson A.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
biotechnology and bioengineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.136
H-Index - 189
eISSN - 1097-0290
pISSN - 0006-3592
DOI - 10.1002/bit.260340211
Subject(s) - reverse osmosis , chemistry , sugar , distillation , chromatography , evaporation , fermentation , ethanol , pulp and paper industry , membrane , organic chemistry , biochemistry , thermodynamics , physics , engineering
Abstract The economic feasibility of preconcentrating dilute sugar solutions prior to fermentation is investigated. Two methods, evaporation and reverse osmosis, are compared. A computer program to determine the optimal preconcentration conditions for glucose solutions of 1.5–16 wt% has been developed. It was used to compute the fractional cost for labor and maintenance, preconcentration, fermentation, and distillation. Preconcentration with evaporation resulted in a higher total cost, compared with no preconcentration, for all cases studied, although a six‐effect unit was used. Reverse osmosis was found to be economically feasible for preconcentration to about 5–10 wt % depending on the concentration of the feed.