Selection of best pretreatment methods for corn stover using multiple criteria decision analysis

Date

2019

Adviser

Ruby Lynn G. Ventura

Abstract

Agricultural residues such as corn stover contain rich amounts of cellulose and hemicellulose which are sources of fermentable sugar that can be converted into high value products. However, the potency of such sugars to become high value products cannot be fully

d without the use of introductory processes, one of which includes pretreatment. This study compares the different pretreatment methods used for corn stover in order to determine which one has the most favorable outcome. Research shows that an effective pretreatment method must be acceptable in its technical, environmental, and socio-economic aspects. To systematically determine the best pretreatment method for corn stover, this study employed a Multi-criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), specifically using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Grey Relational Analysis (GRA). Findings show that technical aspect has the highest importance in determining the best pretreatment method for corn stover and was given a higher weight over the environmental aspect and socio-economic aspect. Results indicate that 'conversion rate was the most influential criterion with its weight of 0.2063 (CR = 0.05), followed by 'hazardous wastes production' and 'operating cost with their respective weights of 0.1106 and 0.0944 (CR = 0.05). GRA showed that Ammonia Fiber Explosion (AFEX) was the most preferred pretreatment method for corn stover with its grade of 0.7255, seconded by Organsolv and Ammonia Recycled Percolation (ARP) which have respective grades of 0.6953 and 0.6630. Sensitivity analysis performed on the concluded results in this study may be done to assess robustness of the selection process. Testing the integrity of the results through actual experimentation would also be useful

Language

English

Location

University of the Philippines Rural High School

Document Type

Capstone

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