High-Performance, Low-Cost Pervaporation Modules for Ethanol Extraction

72215S03-I Demand for ethanol as an oxygenated additive for gasoline is expected to grow substantially over the next few years. Most ethanol is produced via fermentation of sugars derived from corn and is comparatively expensive, in large part due to the high capital and energy costs for fermentation and for separating the product from the fermentation broths. Technologies to improve the efficiency of ethanol separation and to better integrate the fermentation and downstream separation processes are needed to lower the cost of fuel ethanol. This project will develop novel, low-cost inorganic membrane modules that have superior separation properties for extracting ethanol from fermentation broths and that will facilitate the integration of fermentation and ethanol separation, thereby significantly improving the energy efficiency and related costs. In Phase I, the feasibility of fabricating the high-performance inorganic membrane modules with the required ethanol separation properties will be established. Small membrane modules will be fabricated and tested in the laboratory for their ability to separate ethanol from ideal ethanol-water feed solutions and from simulated fermentation broths. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by awardee: The technology should provide important reductions in both initial capital cost and capital recovery costs by reducing equipment costs for both fermentation and downstream processing systems. This could be an important step in reducing the costs of fuel ethanol from corn (and other substrates) and in helping fuel ethanol become more cost-competitive with petroleum-based fuels. Furthermore, the proposed pervaporation membrane modules should be applicable to other fermentations used in the production of chemical and pharmaceutical products.