Low-Cost Membrane Dewatering Technology for Fuel Ethanol Production

The current and future rapid growth of the fuel ethanol industry presents many opportunities for the development and integration of cost-saving and energy-saving innovations. Much of the energy consumption in industrial ethanol production is related to the processes used to extract and concentrate the ethanol from aqueous fermentation media. Technology improvements in ethanol extraction could significantly reduce the overall energy requirements for ethanol production. Therefore, this project will develop and demonstrate cost-effective membrane dewatering devices that will reduce both energy utilization and the production cost of ethanol by at least 20%. In Phase I, novel procedures for fabricating small membrane devices with outstanding water/ethanol-separating properties will be developed. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: The primary application for this technology will be industrial fuel ethanol production at a broad range of plant capacities. In addition, the membrane dewatering devices should find use in the dewatering of many commodity organic chemicals. Total potential markets are several billion dollars annually. Economic and social benefits would be provided by reducing the energy requirements of producing a renewable fuel, thereby reducing dependence on foreign-derived fossil fuels.