5 / 21
Page 38
Food Science 2019
November 11-12, 2019
Food Science and Technology
November 11-12, 2019 | London, UK
3
rd
International Conference on
Volume 3
Applied Food Science Journal
Appl Food Sci J. | Volume 3
Conversion of lignocellulose including biosolids and green waste to Biogas
Conly Hansen
Utah State University, USA
L
ignocellulosic biomass is the most abundantly available raw material on the Earth for the production of biofuels.
The conversion of lignocellulose into renewable energy and more valuable chemicals has been limited. Several
methods for increasing the conversion of lignocellulose into energy by pretreating the feedstock have been developed,
but all of the existing methods have large economic penalties, e.g. disposal of toxic wastes and greatly increased capital
and operating costs. The discovery and characterization of Caldicellulosiruptor microbes; extremophilic organisms
capable of solubilizing lignocellulose, suggested a possible solution to the economic problem of pretreatment. Beginning
in 2014, recognizing the potential for anaerobic digestion of lignocellulose for biogas production, a multidisciplinary
team including a biochemist, chemist, microbiologist and agricultural engineer, from Brigham Young and Utah State
Universities has been conducting experiments to determine if we could break down lignocellulose feedstocks for later
anaerobic digestion. The definition of breakdown in this case means conversion of organic solids in a high temperature
vessel (175°C) containing Caldicellulosiruptor bescii into a type of tea that contains mostly acetate and lactate in water.
Results to date indicate nearly 90% breakdown in 18 – 24 hrs. of certain plant materials including grass and leaves
collected at municipal sanitary landfills. Perhaps the most significant results were that brewery waste that is somewhat
refractory to anaerobic treatment could be partially broken down (50%) and even aerobic sludge from a wastewater
treatment plant that was previously anaerobically digested in a mesophilic process and sun dried could be further broken
down (additional nearly 40% destruction). This presentation will report the results of work we have done to take the
process from the lab to the market; the hurdles to scaling and commercializing the anaerobic digestion of lignocellulose
in an economically viable way.