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Paper Mill Sludge as a Source of Sugars for Use in the Production of Bioethanol and Isoprene

Author

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  • Shona M. Duncan

    (Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology, University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point, Stevens Point, WI 54481, USA)

  • Malek Alkasrawi

    (Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology, University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point, Stevens Point, WI 54481, USA)

  • Raghu Gurram

    (Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology, University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point, Stevens Point, WI 54481, USA)

  • Fares Almomani

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713 Doha, Qatar)

  • Amy E Wiberley-Bradford

    (Department of Horticulture, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1575 Linden Dr, Madison, WI 53706, USA)

  • Eric Singsaas

    (Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, MN 55812, USA)

Abstract

Paper mill sludge (PMS) solids are predominantly comprised of cellulosic fibers and fillers rejected during the pulping or paper making process. Most sludges are dewatered and discharged into landfills or land spread at a cost to the mill; creating large economic and environmental burdens. This lignocellulosic residual stream can be used as a source of sugars for microbial fermentation to renewable chemicals. The aim of this study was to determine the possibility of converting mill sludge to sugars and then fermentation to either isoprene or ethanol. Chemical analysis indicated that the cellulosic fiber composition between 28 to 68% and hemicellulose content ranged from 8.4 to 10.7%. Calcium carbonate concentration in the sludge ranged from 0.4 to 34%. Sludge samples were enzyme hydrolyzed to convert cellulose fibers to glucose, percent conversion ranged from 10.5 to 98%. Calcium carbonate present with the sludge resulted in low hydrolysis rates; washing of sludge with hydrochloric acid to neutralize the calcium carbonate, increased hydrolysis rates by 50 to 88%. The production of isoprene “very low” (190 to 470 nmol) because the isoprene yields were little. Using an industrial yeast strain for fermentation of the sludge sugars obtained from all sludge samples, the maximum conversion efficiency was achieved with productivity ranging from 0.18 to 1.64 g L −1 h −1 . Our data demonstrates that PMS can be converted into sugars that can be fermented to renewable chemicals for industry.

Suggested Citation

  • Shona M. Duncan & Malek Alkasrawi & Raghu Gurram & Fares Almomani & Amy E Wiberley-Bradford & Eric Singsaas, 2020. "Paper Mill Sludge as a Source of Sugars for Use in the Production of Bioethanol and Isoprene," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-12, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:18:p:4662-:d:410329
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Salameh, Tareq & Tawalbeh, Muhammad & Al-Shannag, Mohammad & Saidan, Motasem & Melhem, Khalid Bani & Alkasrawi, Malek, 2020. "Energy saving in the process of bioethanol production from renewable paper mill sludge," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).
    2. Nepu Saha & Akbar Saba & Pretom Saha & Kyle McGaughy & Diana Franqui-Villanueva & William J. Orts & William M. Hart-Cooper & M. Toufiq Reza, 2019. "Hydrothermal Carbonization of Various Paper Mill Sludges: An Observation of Solid Fuel Properties," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-18, March.
    3. Chen, Hui & Venditti, Richard & Gonzalez, Ronalds & Phillips, Richard & Jameel, Hasan & Park, Sunkyu, 2014. "Economic evaluation of the conversion of industrial paper sludge to ethanol," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 281-290.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hatem Abushammala & Muhammad Adil Masood & Salma Taqi Ghulam & Jia Mao, 2023. "On the Conversion of Paper Waste and Rejects into High-Value Materials and Energy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-21, April.
    2. Vasudeo Zambare & Samuel Jacob & Mohd Fadhil Md. Din & Mohanadoss Ponraj, 2023. "Box–Behnken Design-Based Optimization of the Saccharification of Primary Paper-Mill Sludge as a Renewable Raw Material for Bioethanol Production," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-15, July.

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