Bioethanol Potential of Preserved Biowaste
Gerlach, Magdalena (2012)
Gerlach, Magdalena
Tampereen ammattikorkeakoulu
2012
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201205076574
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201205076574
Tiivistelmä
The development of alternatives to fossil fuels like oil and natural gas is becoming increasingly urgent with the depletion of resources of fossil fuels and the steadily worsening state of our atmosphere and natural environment. The usage of biofuels is one possibility to decrease greenhouse gas emissions in the nearer future, while other environmentally friendly vehicle technologies are still under development. Bioethanol can be used in fuels for vehicles without any modifications of the engines in concentrations up to 5 per cent, and even 10 per cent in newer engines. Different possible raw materials for the production of bioethanol have been studied during the last few decades.
The handling of waste produced by human society is becoming more and more difficult due to a growing world population and an increase in living standards world-wide. The aim of this study is to show the bioethanol production potential of preserved food waste in an institution like Tampere University of Applied Sciences. It investigates if the biowaste from the TAMK kitchen, after being stored over longer time periods, is suitable for bioethanol production.
The change in bioethanol yield was studied over a time period of three months, during which the food residues were preserved and stored in anaerobic conditions. The bioethanol yield, as well as other factors such as chloride content, pH, conductivity, and dry matter content, and their fluctuation over time were analyzed over the whole three month period.
The study showed that even though factors like chloride content, pH and conductivity were kept at desirable levels, the bioethanol yield itself fluctuated a lot during the 3 month period. The method of adding the biowaste to the vessel - in terms of amounts and adding rhythm - seems to have an effect on the ethanol yield. An assumption of early fermentation taking place was not confirmed. The dry matter content could not be analyzed accurately enough with the used method and needs to be studied further in the future. For future projects, it would also be necessary to find out the glucose content of the raw material to make the results more comparable to already existing studies.
The handling of waste produced by human society is becoming more and more difficult due to a growing world population and an increase in living standards world-wide. The aim of this study is to show the bioethanol production potential of preserved food waste in an institution like Tampere University of Applied Sciences. It investigates if the biowaste from the TAMK kitchen, after being stored over longer time periods, is suitable for bioethanol production.
The change in bioethanol yield was studied over a time period of three months, during which the food residues were preserved and stored in anaerobic conditions. The bioethanol yield, as well as other factors such as chloride content, pH, conductivity, and dry matter content, and their fluctuation over time were analyzed over the whole three month period.
The study showed that even though factors like chloride content, pH and conductivity were kept at desirable levels, the bioethanol yield itself fluctuated a lot during the 3 month period. The method of adding the biowaste to the vessel - in terms of amounts and adding rhythm - seems to have an effect on the ethanol yield. An assumption of early fermentation taking place was not confirmed. The dry matter content could not be analyzed accurately enough with the used method and needs to be studied further in the future. For future projects, it would also be necessary to find out the glucose content of the raw material to make the results more comparable to already existing studies.