Pilot-scale conversion of lime-treated wheat straw into bioethanol: quality assessment of bioethanol and valorization of side streams by anaerobic digestion and combustion

Table 2 Analysis of the ethanol distillate and comparison with ethanol fuel specifications [18]

Component	Ethanol by fermentation		Specifications^a
	Ethanol distillate	Test method used	Values	Test method
Ethanol	90.7% by weight (= 72.6% by volume)	Gas liquid chromatography using a flame ionization detector (GLC-FID)/Gas liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (GLC-MS)	92% by volume (minimum)	ASTM D 3545-90
Methanol	0.01% by weight	GLC-FID/GLC-MS	2% by weight (max)	ASTM D 4815-89^c
Anion content (for example, chloride)	Less than 1 mg/liter	Ion exchange chromatography	Chloride 0.0004% weight to weight (maximum)	ASTM D 3120-87^d
Water	9.6% by weight	ASTM D 1364	0.5% by weight (maximum)	ASTM E 203-75
Acidity	0.0006% by weight HAc 0.01 mg potassium hydroxide per gram	ASTM D 1613	HAc 0.007% by weight (maximum) potassium hydroxide^b	ASTM D 1613-85

^aSpecifications for E-95 (denatured) ethanol fuel according to the Detroit Diesel Corporation.
^bNo specifications available.
^cOther alcohols and ethers.
^dASTM D 3120-87 modified for determination of organic chlorides and ASTM D 2988-86.

ISSN: 2731-3654