Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Cellulose
Lignocellulosic
Feedstock (LCF)
Food & feed
Chemicals
Materials
Energy
Hemicellulose
Lignin
Figure 1.7
Simplified diagram of a lignocellulosic feedstock biorefinery.
1.5.2.3.1 Lignocellulose Feedstock Biorefinery
A lignocellulose feedstock biorefinery will typically use lignocellulosic biomass
such as wood, straw and corn stover. The lignocellulosic raw material (consisting
primarily of polysaccharides and lignin) will enter the biorefinery and, through an
array of processes, will be fractionated and converted into a variety of energy and
chemical products (see Figure 1.7).
In the US, ZeaChem is currently developing its first commercial lignocel-
lulose feedstock biorefinery at the Port of Morrow in Boardman, Oregon.
Located adjacent to their demonstration facility, the 25 million gallons per
year integrated biorefinery is expected to produce bio-based fuels, C2 chemi-
cals (acetic acid, ethyl acetate, ethanol and ethylene) and C3 chemicals (pro-
pionic acid, propanol and propylene) from nearby woody biomass and
agricultural residues using a hybrid process of biochemical and thermochemi-
cal processing.
Another example of an imminent lignocellulosic feedstock biorefinery is SP
Processum in Sweden, which corresponds to an integrated cluster of industries
converting wood into energy, chemicals and materials (see Figure 1.8). This is
probably one of the best examples of industrial symbiosis in the world, with one
industry using the waste or by-product of another as a raw material [41]. Among
the member companies are AkzoNobel Surface Chemistry (production of thick-
eners for water-based paints and the construction industry), Domsjo Fabriker
(production of dissolving pulp and paper pulp), Ovik Energy (energy production
and distribution) and Sekab (production of ethanol, ethanol derivatives and
ethanol as fuel).
In reality, while the sole products of existing pulp and paper manufacturing
facilities today are pulp and paper (phase I biorefinery), these facilities are
geared to collect and process substantial amounts of lignocellulosic biomass.
They therefore provide an ideal foundation on which to develop advanced
lignocellulose feedstock biorefineries. Additional processes could be built
around pulp mills, either as an extension or as an 'across-the-fence'-type
company.
