Hydrolysis of Waste Paper

Abstract

There are several methods available to convert vegetable cellulose-containing biomass into raw materials for fermentation processes. Two of these methods - acid hydrolysis and enzymatic hydrolysis - will be compared as to their economic merits. For this purpose, use has been made of paper from domestic waste separation installations.

The conclusion can be drawn that the enzymatic route is still considerably more expensive than the acid-hydrolosis route. The most important cause of this is the high cost of enzymes. The cost price of the acidhydrolysis process per ton of glucose, is of the order of the present market price of melasse (Dfl. 440.- per ton of sugar in the present Dutch situation).

Further reseach into the acid-hydrolysis process is recommended, coupled to fermentation processes for the production of materials like ethanol, butanol, aceton. Paper from domestic waste separation installations, used paper of low quality or other kinds of cellulose-containing waste can be used as raw material for the hydrolysis process. Further research into the possibilities of cheap cellulose production is also recommended.