PhD Thesis: Integration of first and second generation bioethanol processes

Ramkumar Nair has nailed his PhD thesis happily today. He worked four years on the concept of integrating lignocellulosic materials into the first generation ethanol using filamentous fungi. Considering 4 decades development of lignocellulosic ethanol (called 2nd generation ethanol), this process still has economical challenges to come into the market, particularly with current low oil price. On the other hand, we have many ethanol plants producing from sugar and grains, named 1st generation ethanol. So, our idea is to integrate these processes in order to make 1st generation ethanol plants to produce lignocellulosic ethanol. Ram has done great job in this line and we hope to see soon the results in large scales. But, first we wish him good luck for his PhD defense on 6 Oct. Here is his PhD thesis, including these articles:

1-  Dilute phosphoric acid pretreatment of wheat bran for enzymatichydrolysis and subsequent ethanol production by edible fungi Neurosporaintermedia

2- Optimizing dilute phosphoric acid pretreatment of wheat straw in thelaboratory and in a demonstration plant for ethanol and edible fungal biomassproduction using Neurospora intermedia

3- Integrated process for ethanol, biogas and edible filamentous fungi basedanimal feed production from dilute phosphoric acid pretreated wheat straw

4- Mild-temperature dilute-acid pretreatment of lignocelluloses for ethanolproduction using filamentous ascomycetes fungus, Neurospora intermedia

5- Mycelial pellet formation by edible ascomycete filamentous fungiNeurospora intermedia