To improve the MixAlco process and biomass pretreatment, five studies were conducted. Three studies related to fermentation, whereas the other two investigated the effectiveness of shock tube pretreatment (STP) coupled with oxidative lime pretreatment (OLP). In the first study, the constant-selectivity assumption used in the continuum particle distribution model (CPDM) was determined to be invalid. During a 32-day batch fermentation, selectivity increased from 0.10 to 0.40 g acid/g non-acid volatile solid (NAVS) digested. Future revisions to CPDM should incorporate a non-constant selectivity term. In the second study, a revised procedure was developed to provide a more accurate determination of moisture content. Conventional drying at 105 degrees C allowed product acids to vaporize with water, which introduced errors. Using the revised procedure, calcium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide was added to samples at a concentration of 0.01 g base/g sample, which retained acids in the sample. The mass of additional retained material closely matched that of the additional retained acid. Three related studies involving biomass pretreatment were performed. In the first, recommended parameters for pretreating sugarcane bagasse with OLP and STP were determined. Recommended OLP parameters were 130 degrees C, 6.9-bar O2, and 2-h duration. The effects of solids concentration, liquid fill volume, particle size, type of shotgun shell, number of shocks, and pretreatment order were investigated. Liquid fill volume, particle size, type of shotgun shell, and pretreatment order were significant variables, whereas solids concentration and number of shocks were not. Recommended OLP parameters were used as a basis for an additional experiment. To simulate industrial-scale pile fermentation, fixed-bed batch fermentation of OLP + STP sugarcane bagasse was performed in 1-L PVC fermentors. Rubber mulch was used as a structural support material to prevent filter plugging, which had been reported in previous work. After 42 d, acid concentration reached 8 g/L with yield approximately 0.1 g acid/g NAVS fed. Poor fermentation performance was caused by short solid-liquid contact time and poor pH control. A third biomass pretreatment experiment investigated the potential of pretreated corn stover as a potential ruminant feed. Five samples (raw, OLP, STP, OLP + STP, and STP + OLP) were analyzed for composition and in vitro digestibility. STP followed by OLP increased neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility from 49.3 to 79.0 g NDF digested/100 g NDF fed. On an organic matter basis, STP + OLP corn stover plus water-soluble extractives had a total digestible nutrients (TDN) of 74.9, nearly reaching corn grain at 88.1.

<p>Algae is regarded as a good potential substrate for biogas production, due to high cells productivity, low cellulose and zero lignin content. Two parts were included in this study: first, cultivations of micro-algae (<em>Chlorella sorokiniana</em> and <em>Tetraselmis suecica</em>) at two different nitrate concentrations, also the effect of addition of CO₂ on algae grow was investigated in this first part. Second, batch fermentations of the cultivated micro-algae as well as a powder <em>Chlorella</em> (obtained from Raw Food Shop) and a dry mix filamentous algae (collected in the pounds in the park at the back of the Tema-building and then dried) were performed. In this part also effects of thermo-lime pretreatment (room temperature, 80^oC, 105^oC and 120^oC) on the algae biogas potentials was investigated.</p><p> </p><p>Both strains of micro-algae cultured at low nitrate gave more CH₄ yield: 319 (±26) mL and 258 (±12) mL CH₄per added gVS was obtained during the degradation of <em>Chlorella sorokiniana </em>grown at 0.4mM-N and 2mM-N level, respectively. For<em> Tetraselmis suecica</em> 337 (±37) mL and 236 (±20) mL CH₄ per added gVS was obtained at 2.4mM-N and 12mM-N level, respectively. Powder <em>Chlorella</em> gave the highest biogas production (719 ±53 mL/added gVS) and CH₄ yields (392 ±14 mL/added gVS), followed by the dry filamentou<em>s</em> algae (661 ±20 mL biogas and 295 ±9 mL CH₄ per added gVS) and <em>Tetraselmis suecica</em> (12 mM-N; 584 ±7 mL biogas and 295 ±9 mL CH₄ per added gVS).</p><p> </p><p>A negative effect of lime treatment at room temperature on CH₄ yield of algal biomass was obtained. Lime treatment at 120^oC showed the fastest degradation rate for <em>Tetraselmis</em> <em>suecica </em>and powder <em>Chlorella</em> during the initial 5 days of incubation.  </p><p> </p><p><em>Chlorella sorokiniana</em> and <em>Tetraselmis suecica</em> cultures flushed with biogas containing 70% and also CO₂ enriched air (5% CO₂) did not increase cells growth (measured as OD₆₀₀) if compared to references grown under air. On the contrary, a clearly inhibition effect on the algal cells growth was observed in some cultures.</p>

At present, the United States generates biofuels (ethanol) from corn grain. Unfortunately, low crop yields and limited growth regions result in limited availability. Furthermore, the use of staple food crops for ethanol production has generated a highly controversial food vs. fuel debate. Because of its high abundance and relatively low cost, lignocellulosic biomass is a promising alternative feedstock for biofuel production; however, structural features of lignocellulose limit accessibility of enzymes or microorganisms. These structural barriers include high lignin content, acetyl groups on hemicellulose, high cellulose crystallinity, cellulose degree of polymerization, and small pore volume. To overcome these barriers, a variety of pretreatment processes (chemical and mechanical) have been developed. Oxidative-lime pretreatment (OLP) is highly effective at reducing lignin content and removing acetyl groups from hemicellulose. Combining OLP with a mechanical treatment process greatly enhances the enzymatic digestibility of lignocellulose. Recommended OLP conditions were determined for Dacotah (120 °C, 6.89-bar O2, 240 min) and Alamo (110 °C, 6-89-bar O2, 240 min) switchgrass. Using recommended conditions, 72-h glucan digestibilities (g glucan hydrolyzed/100 g glucan in raw biomass; 15 filter paper units/g raw glucan) of 85.2 and 88.5 were achieved for Dacotah and Alamo, respectively. Adding ball milling to OLP further enhanced glucan digestibility to 91.1 (Dacotah) and 90.0 (Alamo). In previous studies, shock treatment achieved promising results, but was often inconsistent. This work refined shock treatment with a focus on using consistent procedures and performance analysis. The combination of OLP and shock treatment enhanced the 72-h glucan digestibility of several promising biomass feedstocks: bagasse (74.0), corn stover (92.0), poplar wood (94.0), sorghum (71.8), and switchgrass (89.0). Highly digestible lignocellulose can also be used as ruminant animal feed. Shock treatment plus OLP increased the total digestible nutrients (TDNN; g nutrients digested/100 g organic matter) of corn stover from 51.9 (untreated) to 72.6. Adding in pre-washed corn stover solubles to produce a combined feed (17.8 percent corn stover solubles and 82.2 percent shock OLP corn stover) increased TDNN to 74.9. Mixing in enough solubilized protein to match the crude protein content of corn grain further improved TDNN to 75.5, only 12.6 less than corn grain.

Algae is regarded as a good potential substrate for biogas production, due to high cells productivity, low cellulose and zero lignin content. Two parts were included in this study: first, cultivations of micro-algae (Chlorella sorokiniana and Tetraselmis suecica) at two different nitrate concentrations, also the effect of addition of CO2 on algae grow was investigated in this first part. Second, batch fermentations of the cultivated micro-algae as well as a powder Chlorella (obtained from Raw Food Shop) and a dry mix filamentous algae (collected in the pounds in the park at the back of the Tema-building and then dried) were performed. In this part also effects of thermo-lime pretreatment (room temperature, 80oC, 105oC and 120oC) on the algae biogas potentials was investigated. Both strains of micro-algae cultured at low nitrate gave more CH4 yield: 319 (±26) mL and 258 (±12) mL CH4 per added gVS was obtained during the degradation of Chlorella sorokiniana grown at 0.4mM-N and 2mM-N level, respectively. For Tetraselmis suecica 337 (±37) mL and 236 (±20) mL CH4 per added gVS was obtained at 2.4mM-N and 12mM-N level, respectively. Powder Chlorella gave the highest biogas production (719 ±53 mL/added gVS) and CH4 yields (392 ±14 mL/added gVS), followed by the dry filamentous algae (661 ±20 mL biogas and 295 ±9 mL CH4 per added gVS) and Tetraselmis suecica (12 mM-N; 584 ±7 mL biogas and 295 ±9 mL CH4 per added gVS). A negative effect of lime treatment at room temperature on CH4 yield of algal biomass was obtained. Lime treatment at 120oC showed the fastest degradation rate for Tetraselmis suecica and powder Chlorella during the initial 5 days of incubation. Chlorella sorokiniana and Tetraselmis suecica cultures flushed with biogas containing 70% and also CO2 enriched air (5% CO2) did not increase cells growth (measured as OD600) if compared to references grown under air. On the contrary, a clearly inhibition effect on the algal cells growth was observed in some cultures.

New technologies, such as an efficient vapor-compression evaporator, a stationary lime kiln (SLK), and the MixAlco process, compelled us to re-evaluate methods for producing sugar from cane. These technologies allow more water and lime to be used, and they add more value to bagasse. Extracting and preserving the sugars, and lime pretreating the bagasse to enhance biodigestibility, all at the same time in a pile, was demonstrated to be unfeasible; therefore, sugar extraction must occur before lime treating the bagasse. Sugar extraction should occur countercurrently by lixiviation, where liquid moves in stages opposite to the soaked bagasse (megasse), which is conveyed by screw-press conveyors that gently squeeze the fiber in each stage, improving extraction. The performance of a pilot-scale screw-press conveyor was tested for dewatering capabilities and power consumption. The unoptimized equipment decreased megasse moisture from 96 to 89%. Simulation of the process suggested that eight stages are necessary to achieve 98% recovery from typical sugarcane. The cumulative power for the screw-press conveyor system was 17.0±2.1 hp•h/ton dry fiber. Thin raw juice preserved with lime for several months showed no sucrose degradation and no quality deterioration, except for reducing sugar destruction. The lime loading needed for 1-year preservation is 0.20 g Ca(OH)2/g sucrose. Shorter times require less lime. After preservation, the juice was carbonated and filtered, and the resulting sludge pelletized. Due to their high organic content, the pellets were too weak for calcination temperatures used in the SLK. The organics must be decreased prior to pelletization and sodium must be supplemented as a binding agent. Long-term lime pretreatment of bagasse showed two delignification phases: bulk (rapid) and residual (slow). These were modeled by two simultaneous first-order reactions. Treatments with air purging and higher temperatures (50 – 57oC) delignified more effectively, especially during the residual phase, thus yielding higher cellulase-enzyme digestibilities after 2 – 8 weeks of treatment. At temperatures > 60oC, pure oxygen purging is preferred. Fresh bagasse was of better quality than old bagasse. Treatment with NaOH yielded a larger bulk delignification phase than Ca(OH)2. Long-term lime pulping of bagasse was unsuitable for copy-quality paper, but it was appropriate for strawboard and other filler applications.