Preliminary design and energy efficiency analysis of a kraft pulp mill converted to a biorefinery producing ethanol and DME from softwood

Paper in proceeding, 2010

A conceptual biorefinery process is evaluated. The process is based on conversion of softwood to biofuels and consists of a digester according to the soda cooking principle, a cellulose to ethanol production line, and a black liquor gasification line. The main products are ethanol and dimethyl ether. Opportunities for heat integration exist. The steam surplus from the gasification plant cannot fully satisfy the steam demand of the balance of the process even if the process is well heat-integrated. However, the demand is considerably lower compared to when pulp is produced. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the 7th European Congress of Chemical Engineering-7 and the 19th International Congress of Chemical and Process Engineering CHISA (Prague, Czech Republic 8/28/2010-9/1/2010).