Enhanced biofuel processes utilizing separate lignin and carbohydrate processing of lignocellulose

ABSTRACT

Enhanced biofuel production routes utilizing separate lignin and carbohydrate processing of lignocellulose are analyzed and compared with two conventional routes; the methanol and methane production via syngas from biomass. The enhanced processes studied are: hydrocarbons production by hydrogenation of biomass based sugars by hydrogen obtained from lignin gasification, and ethanol production by biomass hydrolysis and fermentation and conversion of residual lignin into methanol via syngas. The analysis of processes was done by rigorous flowsheet modeling including power production calculations and realistic heat integration and evaluation based on energy yield, greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction and net present value (NPV). The enhanced processes via separate lignin and sugar processing can run in two modes: either being energy self-sufficient or utilizing external low temperature heat and power. The processes can operate with high efficiency as ‘waste heat and power to gas and liquids’ processes for producing liquid or gaseous fuels especially when excess energy is available e.g. in summer. Of all the processes studied the enhanced hydrocarbon production process integrated with external low temperature heat source gave the largest GHG reduction and highest NPV. External low temperature heat and electricity is converted into fuels in 136% higher heating value (116% lower heating value) efficiency.

Keywords:

• Biofuels
• lignocellulose
• energy efficiency
• cost
• greenhouse gas reduction

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Erratum

Acknowledgements

Finnish Academy of Science, Walter Ahlström foundation, Otto A. Malm's foundation, Finnish Foundation for Technology Promotion, Gasum fund and Alfred Kordelin foundation are acknowledged for funding by K. Melin.

This article was originally published with errors. This version has been corrected. Please see Erratum (http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17597269.2016.1151999).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.