A techno-economic assessment of the pretreatment and fractionation steps of a biomass-to-ethanol process
- Univ. of British Columbia, Vancouver (Canada)
It is generally recognized that the front-end (pretreatment, fractionation, enzymatic hydrolysis) steps of a lignocellulose-to-ethanol process are both technologically immature and represent a large component ({approximately}60%) of the total product cost. In the past, we have tried to itemize the process steps and equipment for a complete plant. It was evident that, owing to the complexity and interrelated nature of this process, it was difficult to determine the influence of even minor changes to the process on the overall production cost of the product. We had originally developed a techno-economic model, based on spreadsheets, as a computational and assessment tool. However, our more recent work, which has looked at various process options such as hardwood vs softwoods, SO{sub 2} pretreatment of softwoods, and enzyme recycling, indicated that the model required greater flexibility if it was to assess a {open_quotes}generic{close_quotes} biomass-to-ethanol process. The model is currently being modified to address both the flexibility issues, through the incorporation of flowsheeting concepts, as well as including the most recent work on the various process options. In this article, we have described some of the pretreatment and fractionation issues that are being addressed in the updated model. 78 refs., 10 figs., 1 tab.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 598238
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-950587-; ISSN 0273-2289; TRN: 98:001503-0020
- Journal Information:
- Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Vol. 57-58; Conference: 17. symposium on biotechnology for fuels and chemicals, Vail, CO (United States), 7-11 May 1995; Other Information: PBD: Spr 1996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
55 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BASIC STUDIES
BIOMASS
COST
ENZYMATIC HYDROLYSIS
ETHANOL FUELS
BIOMASS CONVERSION PLANTS
BIOCONVERSION
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
FLEXIBILITY
FRACTIONATION
PRODUCTION
RECYCLING
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
PROCESSING
EQUIPMENT
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
STRUCTURAL MODELS
FLOWSHEETS
HEMICELLULOSE
LIGNIN
CHEMICAL FEEDSTOCKS
CHEMICAL REACTION YIELD
CHEMICAL REACTIONS