ARS | Publication request: FUEL ETHANOL PRODUCTION FROM RICE HULL

Submitted to: American Chemical Society National Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: April 1, 2004
Publication Date: April 1, 2004
Citation: Saha, B.C., Iten, L.B., Cotta, M.A., Wu, Y. 2004. Fuel ethanol production from rice hull [abstract]. American Chemical Society. Paper No. BI0T 101.

Technical Abstract: In many countries, including the USA, rice hulls are an abundant byproduct from paddy processing. They contain about 35% cellulose and 15% hemicellulose and can serve as a low-cost feedstock for production of fuel alcohol. Pretreatment of rice hulls is crucial before enzymatic saccharification. We have evaluated hot water, steam explosion, dilute acid at varied temperatures (120-180 deg C), and alkali as pretreatment options. Dilute acid pretreatment at 160 deg C and above produces fermentation inhibitors such as furfural and hydroxymethyl furfural. Pretreated rice hulls were saccharified by various commercial enzyme preparations. Alcohol production by recombinant Escherichia coli (strain FBR5) from various rice hull hydrolyzates directly, after detoxification with lime, as well as by a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process will be presented. The current status, problems, and prospects of developing a cost-effective bioprocess technology for converting rice hulls to bioethanol will be discussed.