An evaluation of the bioconversion of woody biomass to calcium acetate deicing salt

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1988 · Solar Energy; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-092X(88)90019-9· OSTI ID:5207894

Wise, D L; Augenstein, D ^[1]

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1. Cambridge Scientific Inc., Belmont, MA (USA)

A competitive process is described using local woody biomass residues, which may also include associated pulp and paper wastes, or municipal solid waste, as potential feedstocks for bioconversion to calcium acetate, an alternative deicing salt. The process first involves suppressed methane fermentation of these woody biomass residues in a packed bed fermentor for the production of acetic acid. In earlier experimental work, operation of conventional anaerobic digestion systems in this suppressed methane mode has yielded a product of over 85% acetic acid, the remainder primarily being other organic acids such as propionic and butyric acids; operation at thermophilic conditions (60{degree}C) yielded essentially all acetic acid. In the process described, recovery of the dilute organic acids (=3.5% acetic acid) will be by liquid ion exchange extraction. Production calcium acetate is formed by back extraction of liquid ion exchange with calcium hydroxide. After spray drying, this calcium acetate is ready for use as an organic deicing salt. Pretreatment of woody biomass may be by steam explosion or by mild alkali treatment to breakdown the lignin fraction for fermentation to acetic acid; however, if cellulosic wastes are used, no pretreatment step will be needed. Essentially, only technology transfer is involved in commercialization of this process, rather than the development of new technology. Their cost analysis, the objective of this present work, projects calcium acetate costs of 0.258 $US/kg ($0.117/lb) for a full-scale plant of 454 metric tons/day (500 US tons/day).

• OSTI ID: 5207894
• Journal Information: Solar Energy; (USA), Vol. 41:5; ISSN 0038-092X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
BIOSYNTHESIS
WOOD WASTES
FERMENTATION
ACETATES
CAPITALIZED COST
COMMERCIALIZATION
COST
ICE
ION EXCHANGE
REMOVAL
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
USES
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
BIOCONVERSION
CARBOXYLIC ACID SALTS
SOLID WASTES
SYNTHESIS
WASTES
090900* - Biomass Fuels- Processing- (1990-)