Document Type
Thesis
Date of Award
Fall 12-31-1991
Degree Name
Master of Science in Environmental Science - (M.S.)
Department
Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Environmental Science
First Advisor
Samir S. Sofer
Second Advisor
Richard B. Trattner
Third Advisor
Basil Baltzis
Abstract
A feasibility study has been performed with two bioprocesses for conversion of newsprint waste to an environmentally safe fuel (ethyl alcohol) and carbon dioxide.
The following areas were investigated to accomplish this task: one hour pretreatment of newsprint by attrition, saccharification of paper slurry to glucose by cellulase and cellobiase, effects of pH, temperature and concentration of enzymes on conversion of paper to sugar, fermentation of glucose to ethanol and carbon dioxide by immobilized yeast, and simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of paper to ethanol and carbon dioxide using enzymes and immobilized yeast.
Results indicate that the enzymic hydrolysis of newsprint to sugar and fermentation of sugar to alcohol by immobilized yeast is not only an efficient means to recover energy but also to treat the solid waste and thus help preserve the environments However, a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation was found to be less favorable to produce the desired amount of glucose and ethanol.
Recommended Citation
Gandhi, Nimesh V., "Biomass conversion of solid-waste (newsprint) into a clean fuel (ethanol) by enzymic hydrolysis and fermentation" (1991). Theses. 1311.
https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/theses/1311
