Optimizing the ethanol production from lignocellulosic-materials of sorghum by a sequential hydrolysis and fermentation methodology

Abstract

The production of ethanol from sorghum lignocellulosic-materials by a sequential methodology was investigated in the present work. The methodology involves first the enzymatic hydrolysis of the lignocellulosic materials and later the alcoholic fermentation of the hydrolysate with Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The kinetics of both stages are characterized in order to present a model for the sequential process. Later the kinetic equations were embedded on a mathematical model used to solve an optimal control problem aimed at maximizing the productivity of the reactors train by managing the flow of hydrolisate feeding the fermentor.