Process Development of 2G Ethanol under the Indo-UK Agri-Jet Collaboration

Advancing 2G Ethanol for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF): An Indo-UK Collaboration

The Advanced Biofuels Division at The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), specifically within the Microbial Biofuels & Biochemicals (MBB) area, has partnered with the Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence at the University of York (UK). This collaboration aims to advance second-generation (2G) feedstocks and engineer sustainable technologies to convert lignocellulosic biomass into 2G ethanol—a critical precursor for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). This partnership directly supports India’s transition toward clean fuels and a robust circular bioeconomy.

Technological Innovation and Comparative Analysis

The project integrated two distinct pretreatment philosophies to identify the most efficient pathway for biomass conversion:

• Microwave-Induced Pretreatment (University of York): A robust and scalable technology was developed at the University of York using microwave-assisted release of biomass components. This method is noted for being an environmentally friendly, chemical-free alternative to traditional processing.
• Chemical Pretreatment & Fermentation (TERI): This indigenous process utilized acid and alkali pretreatment on wheat and rice straw. The resulting substrate was processed using TERI’s proprietary in-house strain, Candida neerlandica, for fermentation.

Key Findings

The study involved a comprehensive evaluation of process technology, including pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, and fermentation, focusing on cost-effectiveness and scalability:

Yield Efficiency: Comparative studies indicated higher sugar release and ethanol yields from chemically treated Indian wheat straw. Sustainability: Microwave-treated biomass emerged as a superior green alternative, significantly reducing the chemical footprint of the process.

Conclusion: A Flexible Pathway for SAF

The study underscores the importance of balancing environmental sustainability with process efficiency. It demonstrates that integrating green technologies with conventional pretreatment methods can provide a flexible and optimized pathway for SAF feedstock processing.

The resulting ethanol samples and datasets have provided critical inputs for SAF pathway modeling and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), strengthening the data-driven framework of this Indo-UK collaboration.