SEMINAR: Two presentations on the production of biofuels

Presentation 1: Ultrasound in the Pretreatment of Lignocellulosic Biomass for Biorefinery and Biofuel As concerns increase over climate change and the limitations of the global supply of oil and coal there is a move towards renewable fuel and chemical sources. Currently ethanol is being fermented from starch from corn grain and simple sugars from sugar cane and beets. However the majority of competitive ethanol production processes divert what could otherwise be crops for food into crops for fuel. Given the imminent global food shortage new technologies are required to make biofuels from other sources such as agricultural waste, forestry wastes and energy crops. This talk will review the current pretreatment options and developments for conversion of lignocellulose and the need for new technologies within this area. The potential of using ultrasound in pretreatment as a means of lignin degradation and removal will be explored. Ultrasound is able to enhance processes through chemical and physical means both of which are paramount to the rate and success of the pretreatment.

Presentation2: Sustainable waste management systems to provide biofuels and other desirable bi-products using CAPs technology. There is a pressing need to develop methane mitigation technologies and sustainable waste management systems since the industry could be targeted by future government legalisation such as proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS). Paradoxically, methane is both a GHG and also an effective biofuel (biogas) so one option gaining increased attention is to install impermeable covers over existing anaerobic ponds so that the biogas can be captured and either flared to CO2 (a less potent GHG) or used directly as a fuel or even converted to electricity via a motor generator. Thus, covered anaerobic ponds (CAPs) offer the potential to mitigate GHGs, provide sustainable energy and improve community amenity via odour control. In addition, other CAP by-products such as treated sludge and effluent could be used as soil improvers (compost, fertilisers, soil stabilizers).