Biorefineries using wood for production of specialty cellulose fibers, lignosulfonates, vanillin, bioethanol and biogas – the Borregaard Sarpsborg example - Biomass as Energy Source: Resources, Systems and Applications - page 141

Lignocellulosic
crops or residues

Mecchaniral
treatment

chemical
treatment
Fiber
separation

Separation
of bark

Anaeroblc
digertion

Axilliary
energy

C6 sugars
(fibers)

Fermentation

Biogas

Hydro
power

Distillation

Chemical
modifcation

Combustion

Combustion

Heat &
power

Msw

Electricity
and heat
(internal use)

Lignin

Drylng

Fossil
oil

Cliemidl
modification

Biomaterials
(lignosulphonates)

Biomaterials
(specialty cellulose)

Food chemicals
(vanillin)

Biuethanol

Figure 8.2. The Borregaard Sarpsborg mill classified according to IEA Bioenergy, Task 42 “Biorefineries”
(Cherubini et al ., 2009). MSW stands for municipal solid waste.

The effective use of the wood in the Borregaard mill fits in well with the definition of a
biorefinery, which is a facility that integrates biomass conversion processes and equipment to
produce fuels, power, materials and/or chemicals from biomass (Cherubini et al ., 2009). Other
features of a biorefinery include an integrated use of the biomass components. The biorefinery
must have low adverse environmental impacts and should be economically profitable. According
to the classification of the International EnergyAgency (IEA) BioenergyTask 42, Borregaard can
be considered as a lignin, biogas and C5 and C6 sugars biorefinery for bioethanol, bio vanillin,
lignosulfonates, biomaterials and heat from lignocellulosic crops and residues (Fig. 8.2).
Borregaard pulp mill was founded 1889 and had already in 1892 a production capacity of
6000 tonnes per year of unbleached calcium sulfite pulp (Bergh and Lange, 1989). The mill was
located near the river Glomma, which provided transportation of the feedstock to the mill and the
products from the mill. A waterfall at the same location provided mechanical energy and later
on, hydropower. The feedstock was small dimension timber of Norway spruce, rejected by the
local sawmills. The cooking liquor contained calcium sulfite and sulfur dioxide and was made
according to a new Austrian patent. In addition to the new technology, English capital and the
local abundance of cheap labor made it possible to build the mill. Within the next ten years, both
a paper mill and a bleach plant were in operation.
During the years to come, new products were continuously developed according to demands
from the commercial markets and new mill departments were erected to produce a variety of
materials and chemicals from wood (Fig. 8.3). However, in many cases the production ended due
to competition from similar products produced from cheap fossil oil or produced in countries