• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.53 no.2
• /
• pp.216-223
• /
• 2015

The present work explores the potential of wet air oxidation (WAO) for pretreatment of mixed lignocellulosic biomass to enhance enzymatic convertibility. Rice husk and wheat straw mixture (1:1 mass ratio) was used as a model mixed lignocellulosic biomass. Post-WAO treatment, cellulose recovery in the solid fraction was in the range of 86% to 99%, accompanied by a significant increase in enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose present in the solid fraction. The highest enzymatic conversion efficiency, 63% (by weight), was achieved for the mixed biomass pretreated at $195^{\circ}C$, 5 bar, 10 minutes compared to only 19% in the untreated biomass. The pretreatment under the aforesaid condition also facilitated 52% lignin removal and 67% hemicellulose solubilization. A statistical design of experiments on WAO process conditions was conducted to understand the effect of process parameters on pretreatment, and the predicted responses were found to be in close agreement with the experimental data. Enzymatic hydrolysis experiments with WAO liquid fraction as diluent showed favorable results with sugar enhancement up to $10.4gL^{-1}$.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.59 no.2
• /
• pp.232-238
• /
• 2021

The development of a low cost catalyst with high performance and small amount of carbon deposition on catalyst from toluene steam reforming were investigated by using coal ash as a support material. Ni-loaded coal ash catalyst showed similar catalytic activity for toluene steam reforming compared with the Ni/Al2O3. At 800 ℃, the toluene conversion was 77% for Ni/TAL, 68% for Ni/KPU and 78% for Ni/Al2O3. Ni/TAL showed similar toluene conversion to Ni/Al2O3. However, Ni/KPU produced higher hydrogen yield at relatively lower toluene conversion. Ni/KPU catalyst showed a remarkable ability of suppressing the carbon deposition. The difference in coke deposition and hydrogen yield is due to the composition of KPU ash (Ca and Fe) which increase coke resistance and water gas shift reaction. This study suggests that coal ash catalysts have great potential for the application in the steam reforming of biomass tar.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.49 no.4
• /
• pp.470-474
• /
• 2011

Rice straw is the main grain straw and is produced in large quantities every year in Korea. Pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass using soaking process was carried out mild conditions at atmospheric pressure and temperature of $60^{\circ}C$. We found enzymatic hydrolysis condition of pretreated biomass. In case of a rice straw, compared with previous lignocellulosic biomass, we found that hydrolysis time was a shorter than others. Hydrolysis of SAA-treated rice straw has shown conversion rate was higher at $50^{\circ}C$. Hydrolysis was ended between 40~48 hour. Glucose conversion rate was higher when enzyme loading is 65 FPU/ml and 32 CbU/ml. When substrate concentration was 5%(w/v), it was that conversion rate was 83.8% after hydrolysis for 72 hr. In simultaneous saccharification and fermentation(SSF) experiment about SAA-treated rice straw, ethanol productive yield was highest from $40^{\circ}C$. The yield of that time was 33.05% from 48 hour.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.369-383
• /
• 2012

This experiment was carried out to investigate the optimal stocking rate of earthworm populations grown under different stocking rates. The stocking rate in terms of ratio of biomass of earthworms to biomass of feeds(organic resources) is an important factors for biomass productivity of earthworms and vermicast production. The different stocking rates were 1:16(S-1), 1:32(S-2), 1:48(S-3) and 1:64(S-4), as the ratios of biomass of earthworm to biomass of organic dairy cow manure, respectively. The stocking rate of 1:32(S-2) and 1:46(S-3) were obtained a higher values on increasing rates and conversion efficiency of organic matter to earthworm biomass than other stocking rates. Thus, a stocking rates of 1:32 and 1:46 estimated an optimal stocking rates for maximum biomass productivity of earthworms. A stocking rate of 1:16(S-1) showed a significantly highest values of vermicast production and ratios of vermicasts during the rearing periods.($$P{\leq_-}0.05$$) A stocking rate of 1:48(S-3) showed a highest values of the number of cocoons and vermicasts production per earthworm biomass among the treatment ($$P{\leq_-}0.05$$) The contents of nitrogen, available phosphorus, cation exchange capacity and exchangeable cations of vermicasts tended to increase with stocking rate and rearing progressed. Vermicasts have a great deal of potential for crop production and protection in sustainable organic cropping systems.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.54 no.1
• /
• pp.1-5
• /
• 2016

For obtain fermentable sugar, we conducted acid hydrolysis with lignocellulosic biomass without enzyme. The lignocellulosic biomass used pinus rigida and Palm residues (EFB; empty fruit bunches). In the acid hydrolysis, we consider the hydrolysis condition to reduce a denatured sugar. So this study was conducted 2-step acid hydrolysis. First-step hydrolysis used high concentration (72 wt%) sulfuric acid at $80^{\circ}C$. At the condition, we obtained 11.49 wt%, 32 wt% glucose conversion for pinus rigida and EFB. After the step, the liquor was dilute until 9~15 wt% acid concentration and conducted second hydrolysis at $50{\sim}120^{\circ}C$. In the second hydrolysis, we obtained maximum glucose conversion (pinus rigida 86.8 wt% (39 g/L) and EFB 95.3 wt% (32.4 g/L)) at 9 wt% acid concentration and $120^{\circ}C$ for 80 min. All samples through the process are analyzed on the basis of mass balance.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.214-225
• /
• 2016

Gasification is one of the important contribution to resource recycling by conversion of biomass to a variety of energy sources such as alcohol, SNG etc., and to global warming prevention by reduction of green house gases such as $CO_2$. The aim of this study is to draw the optimal operation condition of dual fluidized-bed gasifier with biomass fuel, to verify SNG production efficiency and to establish the basis for the domestic commercialization of dual fluidized bed gasification. As a result, dual fluidized-bed gasifier has the optimal conditions at $826^{\circ}C$ with steam input 1,334 g/hr, air input 5.56 L/min. The carbon conversion is 81% and SNG production efficiency was $CH_4$ 92%.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.78-86
• /
• 1989

The effective saccharification of cellulosic biomass to glucose is the most critical step for the conversion of renwable biomass to alternative liquid fuel. The enzymatic hydrolysis of biomass can be significantly enhanced provide the attrition milling media is added during hydrolysis. The enhancing mechanism of hydrolysis reaction in an agitated bead system was investigated. An attrition-reactor (bioattritor) which installed specially designed torque measuring apparatus was developed, and the potimal saccharification conditions of bioattritor were determined. The relationship between the power consumption required for agitation of attrition-milling media and enhanced extent of hydrolysis of biomass was compared to evaluatic economic feasibility of the process.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.103 no.1
• /
• pp.37-42
• /
• 2014

Fine root distribution was investigated in Pinus densiflora stands using soil core sampling and minirhizotrons, and conversion factors and regression equations were developed for converting minirhizotron data into fine root biomass. Fine root biomass was measured by soil core sampling from October, 2012 to September, 2013 once a month except for the winter, and surface area of fine roots was estimated by minirhizotrons from May to August, 2013 once a month. Fine root biomass and surface area were significantly higher in the upper soil layers than in the lower soil layers. Fine root biomass showed seasonal patterns; the mean fine root biomass ($kg{\cdot}ha^{-1}$) in summer (3,762.4) and spring (3,398.0) was significantly higher than that in autumn (2,551.6). Vertical and seasonal patterns of fine root biomass might be related to the soil bulk density, nutrient content and temperature with soil depth, and seasonal changes of soil and air temperature. Conversion factors (CF) between fine root surface area from minirhizotron data and fine root biomass from soil core sampling were developed for the three soil depths. Then a linear regression equation was developed between the predicted fine root biomass using CF and the measured fine root biomass (y = 79.7 + 0.93x, $R^2=0.81$). We expect to estimate the long-term dynamics of fine roots using CF and regression equation for P. densiflora forests in Korea.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.1-5
• /
• 2015

This study is to investigate the effect of torrefaction on enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass for bio-ethanol production. As a pretreatment, the torrefaction of lignocellulosic biomass was conducted in temperature of $250{\sim}350^{\circ}C$ in the absence of oxygen. Tween-80, nonionic surfactant, was tested to enhance saccharification efficiency by coping with hydrophobicity resulted from torrefaction. As a result, the glucose production from enzymatic hydrolysis of biomass pretreated by torrefaction was greater than that obtained from the non-pretreated biomass. Sugar conversion was higher when the biomass was saccharified with addition of tween-80. It was found that torrefaction can be applied as a preptreatment for lignocellulosic biomass and tween-80 is needed to enhance its enzyme saccharification.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2006.11a
• /
• pp.529-532
• /
• 2006

Recently the production of ethanol from lignocecllulosics has received much attention due to immense potential for conversion of renewable biometerials into biofuels and chemicals. Fomitopsis palustris causes a typycal brown-rot and is unusual in that it rapidly depolymerize the cellulose in wood without removing the surrounding lignin that normally prevents microbial attack. This study demonstrated that the brown rot basidiomycete F. palustris was able to degrade crystalline cellulose. This fungus could also produce the three major cellulases (BGL, EXG and EG) when the cells were grown on 2.0% Avicel. The fungus was able to degrade both the crystalline and amorphous forms of cellulose from woody biomasses. Moreover, we found that this fungus has the processive EG like CBH which are able to degrade the crystalline region of cellulose. To establish the cellulase system in relation with degradation of woody biomass, we performed that purification, characterization and molecular cloning of a BGL, EGs and GLA from F. palustris grown on Avicel.