The minimum water consumption of ethanol production via biomass fermentation
Date
2008-11-01
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The water consumption of fermentation-based bio-ethanol production has recently begun to attract public attention. We calculate a minimum consumption of 2.85 gal water/gal of ethanol produced assuming zero liquid discharge and otherwise current industrial practice data. Including cooling tower blowdown and drift this value may increase to on the order of 4 gal water/gal of ethanol produced. Reduction of the thermal energy input to the process is vital to reduce this irretrievable water consumption.
Description
Keywords
Ethanol, Water demand, Bio-ethanol, Cooling water, Minimum water demand