Training Program Phase II - Ethanol Production in Lao PDR
On July 20, 2023, Asst. Prof. Dr. Veara Loha, the consultant of the Pilot Plant Development and Training Institute (PDTI), who is a technical expert of the Train-the-Trainer Program under the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation to Enhance Production Capacity and People's Livelihood by Improving the Value Chain for Cassava Cultivation and Application: Clean Cassava Chips, Native Starch, Modified Starch, Ethanol and Biogas Production (TTC), conducted the opening ceremony of Training Program Phase 2 at Khongsedon Co., Ltd, Lao People's Democratic Republic. In this event, the project was honored by Dr. Samai Photisarn, the governor of Muang Khongxedon, who delivered the opening speech.
The main objective of Training Program Phase 2 is to enhance the knowledge and skills of the participants in the production process of cassava ethanol, enabling them to become trainers. The training included participants from various sectors in Laos, both public and private, totaling 16 people, during July 20-21, 2023
In the morning session, the participants attended lectures on the following topics:
- Ethanol industry and its utilization - Asst. Prof. Dr. Veara Loha - King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT)
- Ethanol fermentation from cassava by SSF process - Mr. Sittichoke Wanlapatit - National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC)
In the afternoon session, the participants engaged in practical training on "Cassava chip preparation and fermentation in a pilot plant" and "Analysis and quality control during ethanol fermentation." The speakers for these sessions were Mr. Sittichoke Wanlapatit (BIOTEC) and Mr. Witthaya Butthongmun (KMUTT). Following the practical training, there was a Q&A session and a summary of the training and practical exercises conducted on the first day.
On the second day of the training program, the participants attended a lecture on Ethanol distillation by Asst. Prof. Dr. Veara Loha (KMUTT). Following the lecture, they participated in practical training on Distillation of ethanol by a distillation column in a pilot plant, conducted by Asst. Prof. Dr. Veara Loha (KMUTT) and Mr. Witthaya Butthongmun (KMUTT) as instructors.
In the afternoon session, there was an intensive and continuous practical training. The participants engaged in hands-on exercises on Alcohol hand sanitizer spray preparation and Alcohol hand sanitizer gel preparation, instructed by Mr. Witthaya Butthongmun (KMUTT).
Afterward, a post-test was conducted to assess the knowledge acquired during the two-day training period. Following the post-test, the closing ceremony of the training program commenced.