Use of Buckwheat Straw to Produce Ethyl Alcohol Using Ionic Liquids

Małgorzata Smuga-Kogut; Leszek Bychto; Bartosz Walendzik; Judyta Cielecka-Piontek; Roman Marecik; Joanna Kobus-Cisowska; Katarzyna Grajek; Daria Szymanowska-Powałowska

doi:10.3390/en12102014

Energies (May 2019)

Use of Buckwheat Straw to Produce Ethyl Alcohol Using Ionic Liquids

Małgorzata Smuga-Kogut,
Leszek Bychto,
Bartosz Walendzik,
Judyta Cielecka-Piontek,
Roman Marecik,
Joanna Kobus-Cisowska,
Katarzyna Grajek,
Daria Szymanowska-Powałowska

Affiliations

Małgorzata Smuga-Kogut: Department of Agrobiotechnology, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Koszalin University of Technology, Raclawicka 15-17, 75-620 Koszalin, Poland
Leszek Bychto: Department of Electronics, Faculty of Electronics and Computer Science, Koszalin University of Technology, Sniadeckich 2, 75-453 Koszalin, Poland
Bartosz Walendzik: Department of Civil Engineering, Environmental and Geodetic Sciences, Koszalin University of Technology Koszalin, Sniadeckich 2, 75-453 Koszalin, Poland
Judyta Cielecka-Piontek: Department of Pharmacognosy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Swiecickiego 4, 60-781 Poznan, Poland
Roman Marecik: Department of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 48, 60-627 Poznan, Poland
Joanna Kobus-Cisowska: Department of Gastronomical Sciences and Functional Foods, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego, 60-637 Poznan, Poland
Katarzyna Grajek: Institute of Natural Fibers and Medical Plants, Wojska Polskiego 71b, 60-630 Poznan, Poland
Daria Szymanowska-Powałowska: Department of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 48, 60-627 Poznan, Poland

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/en12102014
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 12, no. 10
p. 2014

Abstract

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Background: Common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) is an annual spring-emerging crop that is classified among the dicotyledons, due to the manner of its cultivation, use, and chemical composition of seeds. The use of buckwheat straw for energy purposes—for example, for the production of second generation bioethanol—might enable its wider application and increase the cost-effectiveness of tillage. Methods: In this study, we examined the usability of buckwheat straw for the production of bioethanol. We pretreated the raw material with ionic liquids and subsequently performed enzymatic hydrolysis and alcoholic fermentation. The obtained chemometric data were analyzed using the Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression model. PLS regression in combination with spectral analysis within the near-infrared (NIR) spectrum allowed for the rapid determination of the amount of cellulose in the raw material and also provided information on the changes taking place in its structure. Results: We obtained good results for the combination of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate as the ionic liquid and Cellic CTec2 as the enzymatic preparation for the pretreatment of buckwheat straw. The highest concentration of glucose following 72 h of enzymatic hydrolysis was found to be around 5.5 g/dm3. The highest concentration of ethanol (3.31 g/dm3) was obtained with the combination of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate for the pretreatment and cellulase from Trichoderma reesei for enzymatic hydrolysis. Conclusions: In summary, the efficiency of the fermentation process is strictly associated with the pool of available fermenting sugars, and it depends on the type of ionic liquid used during the pretreatment and on the enzymatic preparation. It is possible to obtain bioethanol from buckwheat straw using ionic liquid for pretreatment of the raw material prior to the enzymatic hydrolysis and alcoholic fermentation of the material.

Published in Energies

ISSN: 1996-1073 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Technology
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/energies

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