Energy production from biomass with the E-M-F-system

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This thesis focuses on large-scale bio-ethanol production, specifically the utilization of its by-product, stillage, for energy production. The study emphasizes the potential of using stillage to enhance energy efficiency and environmental benefits compared to its traditional use as animal feed. A system called the E-M-F-System was developed for producing biogas and bio-fertilizer from the biomass remaining after bio-ethanol production through digestion and composting. This system connects stillage and stillage digestate across three biological processes. Current research explores the integration of bio-ethanol production with biogas and fertilizer production. Notably, Prasad Kaparaju investigated thermophilic anaerobic digestion of wheat straw stillage, yielding significant methane. Wilkie, A. C. has extensively studied sugar, starch, and cellulosic-based stillages, summarizing the production chain from biomass to stillage utilization. While previous studies proposed combining these processes, they lacked detailed methods or testing. This research aims to fill that gap through theoretical analysis and laboratory research, followed by a comprehensive balance assessment of mass, energy, and CO2-eq. A case study using sweet potato in China illustrates practical application, and a toolbox was created to facilitate the system's use in various projects. The findings suggest that the E-M-F-System holds significant potential for addr