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Turning sugarcane trash into bioplastics: pilot-scale demonstration

RIB-A01 Project Summary.pdf

Version: 1, Uploaded by: MRIC Publisher 01, Size: 518.7 KB, Date Uploaded: 16 July 2020

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Reference (Identifier)
MRR-20-00035
Title

Turning sugarcane trash into bioplastics: pilot-scale demonstration

Broad Theme Classification
1. Natural Sciences
Second Level Classification
1.5 Earth and related Environmental Sciences
Country Specific Sectors
20. Waste Recycling / Waste Management
Author Name
Dr. Jean-Claude Autrey
Institution
Omnicane Limited
Co-Author 1 Name
Dr. Salem Saumtally
Co-Author 1 Institution
Mauritius Sugarcane Industry Research Institute, MCIA
Co-Author 2 Name
Dr. Mark D. Harrison
Co-Author 2 Institution
Queensland University of Technology
Co-Author 3 Name
Dr. Asha Dookun-Saumtally
Co-Author 3 Institution
Mauritius Sugarcane Industry Research Institute, MCIA
Co-Author 4 Name
Mr. Gunshiam Umrit
Co-Author 5 Name
Mrs. Karuna Mulleegadoo
Co-Author 5 Institution
Mauritius Sugarcane Industry Research Institute, MCIA
Co-Author 6 Name
Dr. Tesha Mardamootoo
Co-Author 6 Institution
Mauritius Sugarcane Industry Research Institute, MCIA
Page Range
1-1
Date Published
29 June 2018
Abstract
The current revenue base of the sugarcane industry consists of raw and refined sugar, ethanol from molasses, and electricity from bagasse. There is a clear need for the sugarcane industry to diversify its revenue base to remain profitable despite fluctuations in the sugar price. The poly-3-hydroxyalkanoate (PHA) family of polyesters can be converted into bioplastics with diverse material properties. All PHAs are biodegradable and biocompatible, but one PHA, poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), is particularly suited for high-value medical applications. MSIRI has developed a process to convert sugarcane trash into sugars, transformation of those sugars into PHB using Cupriavidus necator, and recovery of PHB at high purity. This is the first demonstration of PHB production from sugarcane trash. MSIRI is currently optimizing laboratory-scale production to achieve maximum yield of PHB per unit mass of sugarcane trash. Scale-up of the process to pilot-scale is essential to validate the industrial application of the technology and evaluate the economics of commercial-scale production, but pilot-scale facilities for the pretreatment of sugarcane trash and fermentation are not available in Mauritius. Therefore, the proposed project will deliver pilot-scale demonstration of sugarcane trash valorization into PHB at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Mackay Renewable Biocommodities Pilot Plant (MRBPP).
Keywords
sugarcane,trash,hydrolysate,fermentation,polyhydroxyalkanoate,bioplastic,pilot-scale
Language
English
Publisher
Mauritius Research Council
Content Classification
Brief
Funding Agency(ies)
Mauritius Research Council; Omnicane Ltd; Queensland University of Technology (QUT),Australia
Note/Remarks
Project status: completed
Date Uploaded
16 July 2020
Size
518.7 KB
File Format
.pdf
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