Biofuels Laboratory

http://www.fia.usv.ro/laboratoare

OBJECTIVES

The research carried out in this laboratory aims to:

• increase cereal-to-ethanol output
• use agricultural, wood and biomass waste for methanol production
 
• use methanol in waste water treatment plants
• increase direct-methanol fuel cells output
• turn the draft resulted from alcohol to good account

ACTIVITIES

• Cereal enzymatic hydrolysis
• Destructive distillation of high cellulose organic wastes
• Acid hydrolysis of wood wastes to produce sugars

MAIN RESEARCH THEMES

• Alcohol output is influenced by the leaven hydrolyzing capacity, therefore the factors influencing the hydrolyzing capacity of enzymes used to obtain bioalcohol as fuel, as well as the optimum enzyme intake and performing combinations, optimum pH of leaven and temperature are taken into consideration. The chemical hydrolysis allows us to compare the two methods and choose the optimum technological conditions for fermentation process;
• To establish optimum conditions for agricultural and wood waste to-
  biomethanol production
• To study different membranes permeability of direct-methanol fuel cells
• Turning the draft to good account is necessary both for environment protection and revaluation of nutritive substances it contains. Draft proteins and salts are turned to good account for animal feed in the form of supplements, increasing the technological process efficiency. Environment pollution with organic substances from alcohol production plants is reduced to the minimum.

MAIN RESEARCH EQUIPMENT

Computer Controlled Bioreactor	Stereo Microscope
Fermentation Process monitoring with CO2-Ethanol-O2  sensors	Computer Controlled Distilling column

SCIENTIFIC PRODUCTION 2005 - 2007

4 ISI indexed papers, 1 Book, 1 research grant, 7 patents
MAIN COLLABORATIONS
Laboratory of Enzymes et Derivates Romania, Yurii Fedkovici University, Chernivtsy - Ukraine, Techniche Universitate Aalen-Germany, Hohenheim University Germany, Genencor- Danisco Netherlands, Platform for biofuels, BIOCARO Romania.

TEAM

Professor Sonia GUTT, PhD. - Head of the research team
Phone: 0230/520267. E-mail gutts@usv.ro

MEMBERS

Professor Gheorghe GUTT PhD.
Lecturer Cristina DAMIAN, PhD, Chem.
Assistant Eufrozina NIGA, Eng.
Assistant Alina PSIBILSCHI, Eng