Pilot scale was manufactured by Changhae Ethanol CO., LTD., Jeonju, Korea and designated as
Changhae ethanol Multi Explosion (CHEMEX). One batch of the pretreatment was carried out using a
450 L mixer & exploder. NaOH solutions 10% w/w (250L) were used to pretreat 50 kg of ground EFBs
with 10% of moisture content. Pretreatment were performed at temperatures 140-145ºC and 4-7 kg/cm3of
pressure for 30 minutes. After treated of EFB were diluted with water in the 1st washing tank and
insoluble solid were separated from aqueous solution by belt press filtration and transfered to the 2nd
washing tank. EFB-treated were netralized using water and H2SO4 97% in the 2nd Washing Tank until
pH 7-9. After washing and filtration the EFB-treated were transfered to buffer tank at temperature 80oC
for sterilization, see Fig. 1.