Ultrasonic Vibration-Assisted Pelleting of Cellulosic Biomass for Biofuel Manufacturing

该奖项支持纤维素生物质超声波振动辅助（UV-A）造粒的基础研究，以使纤维素生物燃料的生产具有成本效益。具体的研究任务包括：(1)研究超声波振动对制粒机制的影响，(2)验证UV-A制粒如何增加球粒的潜在机制假设。(3)研究UV-A造粒提高糖和乙醇产量的机制，以及(4)验证UV-A造粒可以改善预处理程序的假设。这些任务将在广泛的生物质类型上进行，包括高粱秸秆、柳枝稷、小麦秸秆、玉米秸秆、芒草和草屑。研究结果将提供克服阻碍大规模生产纤维素生物燃料的一些技术障碍所需的知识。大规模生产纤维素生物燃料将极大地有利于美国经济、能源安全、环境和整个社会。这项研究的特点是制造工程、生物工程和工业之间的独特合作。这种合作为项目资源提供了良好的协同作用，确保了研究与工业的相关性，并加快了技术商业化。该研究的跨学科性质将对EPSCoR机构堪萨斯州立大学的工程教育产生积极影响。

This award supports fundamental research on ultrasonic vibration-assisted (UV-A) pelleting of cellulosic biomass in order to enable cost-effective manufacturing of cellulosic biofuels. Specific research tasks include (1) investigating effects of ultrasonic vibration on pelleting mechanisms, (2) testing a hypothesis of the underlying mechanism of how UV-A pelleting can increase pellets? strength and durability, (3) investigating mechanisms through which UV-A pelleting enhances sugar and ethanol yields, and (4) testing the hypothesis that UV-A pelleting can result in improved pretreatment procedures. These tasks will be conducted over a wide range of biomass types including sorghum stalks, switchgrass, wheat straw, corn stover, Miscanthus, and grass clippings.Research results will provide the knowledge needed to overcome some technical barriers that have hindered large-scale manufacturing of cellulosic biofuels. Large-scale manufacturing of cellulosic biofuels will greatly benefit the U.S. economy, energy security, the environment, and society in general. This research features a unique collaboration across manufacturing engineering, biological engineering, and industry. This collaboration provides excellent synergy for project resources, ensures the relevance of the research to industry, and expedites technology commercialization. The interdisciplinary nature of the research will have a positive impact on engineering education at Kansas State University, an EPSCoR institution.