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| In 2005, the U.S. government created the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program, which was further expanded in 2007 with the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA). Both programs mandate reducing greenhouse gas emissions, expanding renewable fuel sources, and reducing reliance on imported oil, resulting in increased emphasis on developing new methods to efficiently produce fuel from renewable, non-petroleum resources. Ethanol, a renewable fuel, is commercially produced from feedstocks of cornstarch, sugar cane, and sugar beets. Ethanol can be produced through the fermentation of cellulose created by lignocellulosic biomass materials, such as corn stover, corn fiber, and wheat straw, among others. A problem with using lignocellulosic biomass materials in ethanol production includes the disposal of residual non-ethanol materials formed during the fermentation process. Traditionally, the disposal of these materials take place at a wastewater treatment plant, wasting potential energy through a disposal process that is neither environmentally friendly nor efficient. Researchers at Purdue University have developed a process for converting biomass into ethanol that addresses the problem of residue utilization from biomass ethanol formation. The process described includes heating, collecting, drying, and burning at least a portion of the non-ethanol forming materials left after processing. Burning these materials generates heat, which can be burned onsite to produce energy to feedback into the production system. Advantages: -Environmentally friendly -Economical -Energy efficient Potential Applications: -Biofuels -Ethanol production -Alternative fuel production |
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Apr 13, 2012
Utility Patent
United States
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Oct 13, 2010
PCT-Patent
WO
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Oct 13, 2010
NATL-Patent
Canada
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(None)
Oct 13, 2010
NATL-Patent
China
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Oct 13, 2010
NATL-Patent
Brazil
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Oct 13, 2009
Provisional-Patent
United States
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(None)
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Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization The Convergence Center 101 Foundry Drive, Suite 2500 West Lafayette, IN 47906 Phone: (765) 588-3475 Fax: (765) 463-3486 Email: otcip@prf.org |