Production of Methanol From Biomass

                                                               ABSTRACT

        Biomass is organic materials that are made from plants and animals. Biomass stored alot of energy from the sun. Biomass is renewable sources of energy which can grow more such as trees and crops, and waste always exist. Example of this biomass may include wood, forage crops, manure and some garbage and alcohol fuels. The usable forms of energy such as methane gas, Transportation fuels like methanol, ethanol and biodiesel can all be converted from Biomass. About 3% of energy utilized in the United States are converted from Biomass fuels. 

        The use of Biomass (Andropogon gayanus) as alternative and cost effective feedstock for the production of biomethanol was examined, 4M of HSO was diluted which was used for hydrolysis and fermentation processes with yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae and α-amylase) The ethanol concentration at 24 hrs of fermentation was 0.5% wt, α-amylase was added at the end of 24 hrs to ease the conversion process from ethanol to methanol.  And at 48 hrs ethanol concentration diminished to 0.0% wt and at the end of 96 hrs rapid concentration of methanol was recorded to be 4.0% wt.  The distillation process was set and carried out at a temperature range of 70ᵒC to 75ᵒC.

This research aims at investigating the possibility of using Biomass as a feedstock for the production of methanol and the research can be achieved through the following objectives;

Ø  To produce methanol  Biomass using Yeast as a catalyst

Ø  To compare results obtained with that of standard value

Ø  To determine the properties of biofuel from  Andropogon gayanus