Membrane Process for Bioethanol Production

78065S Bioethanol is an established domestic chemical/fuel product that is environmentally friendly and offers the possibility of strengthening American farm economy while simultaneously lowering dependence on the foreign oil. However, the benefits are limited because, during the fermentation process, the build up of ethanol negatively impacts the fermentation microorganism, thereby decreasing process efficiency and increasing energy consumption. To address this problem, an ethanol production process will be developed in which fermentation is combined with a membrane separation process that continuously extracts ethanol from the fermentor, while leaving the microorganism intact. Phase I will demonstrate the feasibility of preparing a novel oleophobic membrane that selectively removes ethanol from the fermentation solution. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The new membrane process should reduce the cost of bioethanol production by integrating ethanol separation with fermentation. As a renewable energy source and fossil fuel substitute, low cost bioethanol production will reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil, enhance U.S. national security, and reduce atmospheric emissions.