Furfural/ethanol coproduction from biomass feedstocks using acid hydrolysis
- Tennessee Valley Authority, Muscle Shoals, AL (United States)
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has been involved in research and development to produce high-value chemicals from biomass for over 15 years. Use of biomass releases less carbon dioxide than use of fossil fuels, and thus represents a more environmentally friendly source of chemicals and fuels. Two biomass conversion processes have been developed as a result of TVA`s work--concentrated acid hydrolysis and dilute acid hydrolysis. Both processes use sulfuric acid as a catalyst. Early hydrolysis research focused on improving ethanol yields through hydrolysis and five-carbon sugar fermentation research. Both processes have been demonstrated at the pilot plant scale. Current work is focused on the development of integrated systems for producing ethanol and a variety of other chemicals and products from biomass. Production of furfural and ethanol from high hemicellulose feedstocks has been identified by TVA as an integrated system with technical and economic potential for commercial success. A system design has been developed to produce ethanol and furfural using dilute acid hydrolysis of sycamore. Furfural yields for the system are estimated at 180--240 pound/ton. Ethanol process yields are 25--38 gallon/ton. Capital and operating costs for a 4,500 ton/day facility are estimated to be $609 million and $183 million, respectively. The dilute acid hydrolysis process proposed by TVA will be described along with additional process economics and potential furfural markets.
- OSTI ID:
- 471016
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-960420--; ISBN 0-884736-02-5
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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