Ethanol production from municipal solid waste via acid hydrolysis

Treatment of municipal solid wastes (MSW) yielding high value products, in this case ethanol, energy and enriched plant growth media, are the objectives of this R&D program. The process includes combined treatment and resource recovery of MSW based on dilute acid hydrolysis and alcohol fermentation. It was found that the optimal conditions for the acid hydrolysis are: temperature of 230-235°, pressure of about 30 atm., pH value of about 0.5 and reaction time of 8 to 15 seconds. Under these conditions glucose yield of about 60% can be achieved. Methods to overcome toxicity problems while achieving high ethanol yields (>85%) in high substrate concentrations (TS=25%) were developed, as well as techniques for by products utilization.