DuPont and P&G plan to make detergent from agricultural waste such as corn strover, wheat straws

Date:17 Oct 2014

Country: United States

Plant Name:

    Corn

    Wheat

Residue Name:

    Process waste/Secondary residue

    Straws

End Products

Biochemicals

Detergent

Application

  • Sustainable Detergent Production: Using cellulosic ethanol derived from agricultural waste in Tide Coldwater detergent reduces reliance on petroleum and lowers greenhouse gas emissions.

Description

Procter & Gamble and DuPont are collaborating to produce laundry detergent from agricultural waste by using cellulosic ethanol. This renewable ethanol, derived from farm by-products, reduces greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional petroleum or corn-based ethanol. DuPont's new biorefinery in Iowa will produce 30 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol annually. Tide Coldwater will be the first detergent to use this sustainable ingredient, promoting both environmental benefits and high performance.

Pathway Description:

The process used in this project involves converting agricultural waste into cellulosic ethanol through a biorefinery. DuPont’s facility in Iowa employs advanced bioengineering techniques, including enzymatic hydrolysis, fermentation, and distillation, to transform farm by-products like corn stover into ethanol. The process begins with the breakdown of the cellulose in the agricultural waste through enzymatic hydrolysis, where specialized enzymes convert complex carbohydrates into fermentable sugars. These sugars are then subjected to fermentation, during which microorganisms metabolize the sugars to produce ethanol. Finally, the ethanol is purified through distillation, ensuring it meets the required quality standards. This ethanol is used as a key ingredient in Tide Coldwater detergent, replacing traditional petroleum or corn-based ethanol, and offering a more sustainable solution.

 

 

Source: Know More...

Tags: Sustainable DetergenEco Friendly LaundryBio Based Detergents

End Products

Biochemicals

Detergent

Feedstock

Types of Feedstock

Primary agricultural residue

Name

Agricultural residue

Form

Solid biomass

Commercials

Low-cost by-products from farming

Characteristics

Renewable

Pathways

Chemical

Enzymatic Hydrolysis,Distillation

Biological

Fermentation

Stakeholders

Industrial and commercial

Procter & Gamble (P&G),DuPont