Swedish researcher uses fungus to produce 1G and 2G ethanol together

In Sweden, a researcher from Borås University used an edible filamentous fungus, Neurospora intermedia, which is a fungus used for human consumption, for example in Indonesia, that integrates first and the second generation ethanol processes. The fungus has a good ability to produce ethanol and is also a good ingredient in animal feed due to its high protein content. This fungus is easy to grow in a lab environment.

The biggest challenge was not to add chemicals to break down the waste material for the ethanol process, as the residues from the ethanol factories among other things will be used for animal feed.

The entire method was first tested in a small scale in the lab at the University of Borås, later in a larger facility at Borås Energi och Miljö, and finally on an even larger scale at SEKAB in Örnsköldsvik. It was complicated to find out how to do it, but once it was done the method for making the fungus form pellets instead of lumps is quite simple.

Now the project will hopefully continue at the industry, to develop and fine-tune the process at a larger scale. The entire concept of integration and the results are now included in a patent owned by Lantmännen Agroetanol, which is one of the partners in the research project.