Comparative Study on Quality of Fuel Pellets from Switchgrass Treated with Different White-Rot Fungi
Fungal pretreatment of switchgrass using <i>Phanerochaete chrysosporium</i> (PC), <i>Trametes versicolor</i> 52J (TV52J), and the <i>Trametes versicolor</i> mutant strain (m4D) under solid-state fermentation was conducted to improve its pellet quality. For all thr...
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MDPI AG
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/22/7670 |
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| author | Onu Onu Olughu Lope G. Tabil Tim Dumonceaux Edmund Mupondwa Duncan Cree |
| author_facet | Onu Onu Olughu Lope G. Tabil Tim Dumonceaux Edmund Mupondwa Duncan Cree |
| author_sort | Onu Onu Olughu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Fungal pretreatment of switchgrass using <i>Phanerochaete chrysosporium</i> (PC), <i>Trametes versicolor</i> 52J (TV52J), and the <i>Trametes versicolor</i> mutant strain (m4D) under solid-state fermentation was conducted to improve its pellet quality. For all three fungal strains, the fermentation temperature had a significant effect (<i>p</i> < 0.05) on pellet unit density and tensile strength. The <i>p</i>-values of the quadratic models for all the response variables showed highly significant regression models (<i>p</i> < 0.01) except for dimensional stability. In addition, 3.1-fold and 2.8-fold increase in pellet tensile strength were obtained from <i>P. chrysosporium</i>- <i>and T. versicolor</i> 52J-treated materials, respectively. Microstructural examination showed that fungal pretreatment reduced pores in the pellets and enhanced pellet particle bonding. Among the fungal strains, PC had the shortest optimum fermentation time (21 d) and most positive impact on the pellet tensile strength and hydrophobicity. Therefore, switchgrass pretreatment using PC has the potential for resolving the challenges of switchgrass pellet transportation and storage and reducing the overall pelletization cost. However, a detailed comparative technoeconomic analysis would be required to make definitive cost comparisons. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:32:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2cef10f2183842c09e2a0315a1629beb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:32:18Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-2cef10f2183842c09e2a0315a1629beb2023-11-22T23:11:42ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732021-11-011422767010.3390/en14227670Comparative Study on Quality of Fuel Pellets from Switchgrass Treated with Different White-Rot FungiOnu Onu Olughu0Lope G. Tabil1Tim Dumonceaux2Edmund Mupondwa3Duncan Cree4Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, 57 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A9, CanadaDepartment of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, 57 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A9, CanadaAgriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon Research Centre, 107 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 0X2, CanadaDepartment of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, 57 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A9, CanadaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, 57 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A9, CanadaFungal pretreatment of switchgrass using <i>Phanerochaete chrysosporium</i> (PC), <i>Trametes versicolor</i> 52J (TV52J), and the <i>Trametes versicolor</i> mutant strain (m4D) under solid-state fermentation was conducted to improve its pellet quality. For all three fungal strains, the fermentation temperature had a significant effect (<i>p</i> < 0.05) on pellet unit density and tensile strength. The <i>p</i>-values of the quadratic models for all the response variables showed highly significant regression models (<i>p</i> < 0.01) except for dimensional stability. In addition, 3.1-fold and 2.8-fold increase in pellet tensile strength were obtained from <i>P. chrysosporium</i>- <i>and T. versicolor</i> 52J-treated materials, respectively. Microstructural examination showed that fungal pretreatment reduced pores in the pellets and enhanced pellet particle bonding. Among the fungal strains, PC had the shortest optimum fermentation time (21 d) and most positive impact on the pellet tensile strength and hydrophobicity. Therefore, switchgrass pretreatment using PC has the potential for resolving the challenges of switchgrass pellet transportation and storage and reducing the overall pelletization cost. However, a detailed comparative technoeconomic analysis would be required to make definitive cost comparisons.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/22/7670fungal pretreatmentpelletizationpellet qualitysolid-state fermentationswitchgrass |
| spellingShingle | Onu Onu Olughu Lope G. Tabil Tim Dumonceaux Edmund Mupondwa Duncan Cree Comparative Study on Quality of Fuel Pellets from Switchgrass Treated with Different White-Rot Fungi Energies fungal pretreatment pelletization pellet quality solid-state fermentation switchgrass |
| title | Comparative Study on Quality of Fuel Pellets from Switchgrass Treated with Different White-Rot Fungi |
| title_full | Comparative Study on Quality of Fuel Pellets from Switchgrass Treated with Different White-Rot Fungi |
| title_fullStr | Comparative Study on Quality of Fuel Pellets from Switchgrass Treated with Different White-Rot Fungi |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparative Study on Quality of Fuel Pellets from Switchgrass Treated with Different White-Rot Fungi |
| title_short | Comparative Study on Quality of Fuel Pellets from Switchgrass Treated with Different White-Rot Fungi |
| title_sort | comparative study on quality of fuel pellets from switchgrass treated with different white rot fungi |
| topic | fungal pretreatment pelletization pellet quality solid-state fermentation switchgrass |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/22/7670 |
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