Increasing Bioethanol Output: A New Approach in the Potato Processing Industry
by Jorge Luis Alonso with ChatGPT-4
Global population growth increases demand for food, which in turn increases resource consumption and waste. The EU’s Green Deal promotes a circular economy to reduce waste and environmental impact. Part of this initiative involves the food system, specifically potato processing, which generates significant waste that industries could divert to more sustainable uses.
Potato waste, which is rich in lignocellulosic material and other nutrients, is a promising feedstock for several industries, including biofuel production. Industries can produce bioethanol, a renewable fuel, from sugar-based, starch-based and lignocellulosic feedstocks, and potato waste meets these criteria.
Studies have demonstrated the feasibility of producing bioethanol from potato waste, with specific processes such as enzymatic hydrolysis and simultaneous saccharification fermentation (SSF) showing efficacy. However, these studies often focus on one type of waste, such as potato peels.
The goal of this study, conducted by the National Technical University of Athens (Greece) and published in the journal Fermentation, is to produce bioethanol from all types of potato processing waste, not just one. The researchers investigated the optimal pretreatment for bioethanol production and other operating conditions. After pilot-scale testing, they proposed a large-scale plan for potato processing waste management that will benefit both the economy and the environment.
The team dove deep into the sampled production fields, exploring distinctive Dickeya and Pectobacterium species patterns that had yet to be noticed by the potato tuber seed certification process. Their rigorous gapA analysis revealed infraspecific diversity at the plot scale, and they unraveled the intricate relationships between strains contributing to symptom expression.
They discovered these patterns in plots planted with rejected seed tubers, underscoring the critical role of certification programs in leaving contaminated tubers behind. The scientists challenged representatives of the diversity of Dickeya and Pectobacterium found in potato fields with different biocontrol agents. This proactive approach led to the identification of several biocontrol agents capable of controlling a wide range of pathogen species.
Source: Felekis, V., Stavraki, C., Malamis, D., Mai, S., & Barampouti, E. M. (2023). Optimisation of Bioethanol Production in a Potato Processing Industry. Fermentation, 9(2), 103. https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation9020103
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