Toward a sustainable biorefinery using high-gravity technology
Journal article, 2017
The realization of process solutions for a sustainable bioeconomy depends on the efficient processing of biomass. High-gravity technology is one important alternative to realizing such solutions. The aims of this work were to expand the knowledge-base on lignocellulosic bioconversion processes at high solids content, to advance the current technologies for production of second-generation liquid biofuels, to evaluate the environmental impact of the proposed process by using life cycle assessment (LCA), and to develop and present a technically, economically, and environmentally sound process at high gravity, i.e., a process operating at the highest possible concentrations of raw material. The results and opinions presented here are the result of a Nordic collaborative study within the framework of the HG Biofuels project. Processes with bioethanol or biobutanol as target products were studied using wheat straw and spruce as interesting Nordic raw materials. During the project, the main scientific, economic, and technical challenges of such a process were identified. Integrated solutions to these challenges were proposed and tested experimentally, using wheat straw and spruce wood at a dry matter content of 30% (w/w) as model substrates. The LCA performed revealed the environmental impact of each of the process steps, highlighting the importance of the enzyme dose used for the hydrolysis of the plant biomass, as well as the importance of the fermentation yield.
life cycle assessment
bioethanol
wheat straw
spruce
biobutanol
high solids
Author
Charilaos Xiros
University of Bern
Chalmers, Biology and Biological Engineering, Industrial Biotechnology
Mathias Janssen
Chalmers, Energy and Environment, Environmental Systems Analysis
Roberth Byström
Sekab
Børre T. Børresen
Statoil
David Cannella
University of Copenhagen
Henning Jørgensen
Technical University of Denmark (DTU)
University of Copenhagen
Rakesh Koppram
Austrian Center of Industrial Biotechnology (ACIB)
Chalmers, Biology and Biological Engineering, Industrial Biotechnology
Christer Larsson
Chalmers, Biology and Biological Engineering, Systems and Synthetic Biology
Lisbeth Olsson
Chalmers, Biology and Biological Engineering, Industrial Biotechnology
Anne-Marie Tillman
Chalmers, Energy and Environment, Environmental Systems Analysis
Sune Wännström
Sekab
Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining
1932-104X (ISSN)
Vol. 11 1 15-27Driving Forces
Sustainable development
Subject Categories
Biochemicals
Industrial Biotechnology
Environmental Engineering
Bioenergy
Areas of Advance
Energy
DOI
10.1002/bbb.1722