Chun Sheng Goh

Bio-ethanol from lignocellulose: Status, perspectives and challenges in Malaysia

The present study reveals the perspective and challenges of bio-ethanol production from lignocellulosic materials in Malaysia. Malaysia has a large quantity of lignocellulosic biomass from agriculture waste, forest residues and municipal solid waste. In this work, the current status in Malaysia was laconically elucidated, including an estimation of biomass availability with a total amount of 47,402 dry kton/year. Total capacity and domestic demand of second-generation bio-ethanol production in Malaysia were computed to be 26,161 ton/day and 6677 ton/day, respectively. Hence, it was proven that the countrys energy demand can be fulfilled with bio-ethanol if lignocellulosic biomass were fully converted into bio-ethanol and 19% of the total CO(2) emissions in Malaysia could be avoided. Apart from that, an integrated national supply network was proposed together with the collection, storage and transportation of raw materials and products. Finally, challenges and obstacles in legal context and policies implementation were elaborated, as well as infrastructures shortage and technology availabilities.

Hot compressed water pretreatment of oil palm fronds to enhance glucose recovery for production of second generation bio-ethanol.

This work presents the pretreatment of oil palm fronds (OPF) using hot compressed water (HCW) to enhance sugar recovery in enzymatic hydrolysis. A central, composite rotatable design was used to optimize the effect of reaction temperature, reaction time and liquid-solid ratio on the pretreatment process. All variables were found to significantly affect the glucose yield. A quadratic polynomial equation was used to model glucose yield by multiple regression analysis, using response surface methodology (RSM). Using a 10 bar pressurized reactor, the optimum conditions for pretreatment of OPF were found at 178 degrees C, 11.1 min and a liquid-solid ratio of 9.6. The predicted glucose yield was 92.78 wt.% at the optimum conditions. Experimental verification of the optimum conditions gave a glucose yield in good agreement with the estimated value of the model.

Pretreatment of oil palm frond using hot compressed water: an evaluation of compositional changes and pulp digestibility using severity factors.

The influence of reaction temperature (160-200°C), residence time (45-90min), and liquid-solid ratio (8-16v/w) on oil palm frond (OPF) pre-treated with hot compressed water (HCW) was evaluated using severity factors. Effect of the process parameters studied on pulps composition and digestibility were found to be complex. The results revealed that digestibility could not be predicted merely according to composition. Severity factor was correlated with compositional changes and digestibility with good R-squared values at varied liquid-solid ratios (8-16v/w), but not with overall glucose yield. HCW pretreatment significantly improved the overall glucose yield up to 83.72% with severity of 3.31 and liquid-solid ratio of 8.0 compared to untreated raw OPF which only recorded an overall glucose yield of 30.97%. HCW is therefore an effective method for pretreatment of OPF for glucose recovery.

A General Introduction to International Bioenergy Trade

The development of functional international markets for bioenergy has become an essential driver to develop bioenergy potentials, which are currently under-utilised in many regions of the world. Technical potential of bioenergy may be as large as 500 EJ/yr by 2050. However, large uncertainty exists about important factors such as market and policy conditions that affect this potential. Potential deployment levels by 2050 could lay in the range of 100–300 EJ/yr. Realizing this potential represents a major challenge but would substantially contribute to the world’s primary energy demand in 2050. The possibilities to export biomass-derived commodities for the world’s energy market can create important socioeconomic development incentives for rural communities. But bioenergy markets are still immature, relying on policy objectives and incentives, that prove to be erratic in many cases. Further improvement is needed to develop both supply and demand in a balanced way and avoid distortions and instability that can threaten investments. Furthermore, it is necessary to develop and exploit biomass resources in a sustainable way and to understand what this means in different settings. In some markets, prices of biomass resources are volatile, including indirect effects on price of raw material prices for e.g. the forest industry as well as on food. Sustainability demands serve as a starting point for policies supporting bioenergy in many countries. The proliferation of initiatives registered worldwide to develop and implement sustainability frameworks and certification systems for bioenergy, can lead to a fragmentation of efforts. This asks for harmonization and for international collaboration.

Can We Get Rid of Palm Oil

Concerns over the sustainability of palm oil have triggered debates about its role in a bio-based economy, but can we get rid of it? Although the quick answer is no, we should eliminate unsustainable land-use practices. However, currently, technical and financial support for land-users to adopt sustainable land-use practices in the cultivation of palm oil is largely missing.

Synthesis and Recommendations

In this chapter, the main insights and lessons of the book are synthesized, providing an overview of trade flows and key findings on amongst others the importance of biomass trade in relation to policies, logistics, sustainability. Based on that, recommendations are formulated for policy makers, NGO’s, industry and academia how to further develop international bioenergy trade. The chapter is closed by a vision on future bio-based economy, international markets and trade. We show that while bioenergy trade is not a goal on its own, and that substantial challenges for the future development of global and international bioenergy trade may be expected in the coming decades, trade is a crucial prerequisite to balance demand and supply on an international scale and in a sustainable manner which will lead to the development of bioenergy as a carbon-neutral alternative to fossil fuels. At the same time, trade can mobilize rural areas around the world into becoming key energy producers and exporters which in turn can contribute to poverty alleviation and further development and modernization of the agricultural sector. However, such developments will need governance frameworks and best industry examples to ensure sustainable production, trade and use – and this book provides many state-of-the-art insights in what can be learned from current market experiences, certification efforts, logistics and preconditions with respect to policy and investment.