Techno-Economic Aspects of on-Site Cellulase Production

Abstract

On-site cellulase production for lignocellulosic ethanol production based on SO2-impregnated steam pretreatment followed by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation was investigated from a techno-economic aspect using Aspen Plus and Aspen Icarus softwares. The enzyme fermentation was assumed to operate batch-wise with a cycle time of 100 hours. The base case included sixteen 343 m3 aerated fermentors arranged in four lines operating according to a merry-go-round pattern. Besides the base case, three cases, with improved productivities, were investigated. The cost of the on-site enzyme production was estimated to range between 6.7-16.5 Eurocent/L ethanol. The cost of carbon source was not included in the total production cost, since the pretreated material was produced in the process.