10
Miscanthus Biomass for Alternative
Energy Production
Jikai Zhao, Donghai Wang, Valentina Pidlisnyuk, and Larry E. Erickson
Abstract
Biomass such as Miscanthus that is produced using phytoremediation can
be used as a biofuel. In some locations it is used for heating homes that
are located close to where it is produced. This chapter considers alternative
energy technologies for Miscanthus and other plants, including liquid fuels
such as ethanol, methane from anaerobic digestion, and pyrolysis (thermal
Processing). Pretreatment alternatives to convert cellulose to glucose are
reviewed because the economics of ethanol production from Miscanthus are
impacted by the efficiency of cellulose hydrolysis to glucose. Size reduction of Miscanthus is often the first step in the process because enzymes
for hydrolysis are more effective when there is large surface area. Ethanol
that is produced by fermentation as a liquid is easier and less expensive to
transport compared to Miscanthus biomass and methane from anaerobic
digestion. Methane that is produced by anaerobic digestion is a mixture
of methane and carbon dioxide. It can be used locally as a fuel, but it is
expensive to distribute over a significant distance by pipeline. This chapter
reviews pretreatment methods for Miscanthus prior to anaerobic digestion.
There is a need to make good use of the hemicellulose and lignin because
the economics are better when all of the harvested Miscanthus is used with
good conversion efficiency.
CONTENTS
10.1 Introduction................................................................................................ 178

10.2 Evaluation of Biomass Suitability for Energy ........................................ 178

10.3 Bioethanol Production .............................................................................. 183

10.3.1 Physicochemical Pretreatment..................................................... 183

10.3.2 Enzymatic Hydrolysis and Fermentation .................................. 185

10.4 Biomethane and Biohydrogen Production............................................. 186

10.5 Thermochemical Conversion ................................................................... 187

10.5.1 Heat and Power Generation ......................................................... 187

10.5.2 Bio-Oil and Syngas Production ................................................... 189

References............................................................................................................. 191

177