Evaluation of Bamboo as A Feedstock for Bioethanols in Taiwan

Abstract

The bamboo covers 152,300 ha in Taiwan, roughly of 7.2 % the overall forest area. This study evaluated Ma bamboo (Dendrocalamus latiflorus Munro) as a feedstock for bioethanols in Taiwan. Acidic steam explosion was employed to prepare Ma bamboo chips, as well as alkaline steam explosion, bleached and unbleached kraft pulps. For the saccharification of pretreated bamboo biomaterials, cellulase formulations were applied with three dosages: 2, 6, 12 percents weights to dried pulps. For acidic exploded pulp, the optimal yields were 348.92 ± 39.76 mg/ g o. d. pulp, 68% of pulp alpha cellulose contents. The hydrolysis efficiencies were negatively impacted by lignin and xylan contents of pretreated bamboo biomaterials. Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) were also conducted using Saccharomyces cerevisiae D5A under 38oC and pH 5 at shake flask level. After 96 hours, 91.8 mg ethanol per g of α-cellulose was obtained for acid exploded pulp; 176.3 mg ethanol per g of α-cellulose was obtained for alkaline exploded pulp; 537.6 mg ethanol per g of α-cellulose was obtained for bleached bamboo pulp. Based on the experimental data, up to 10,700 tons of bioethanols could be produced annually by acidic steam explosion. Keywords: