Authors: Mao, H.; Genco, J.M.; Yoon, S.-H.; van Heiningen, A.; Pendse, H.

Source: Journal of Biobased Materials and Bioenergy, Volume 2, Number 2, June 2008 , pp. 177-185(9)

Publisher: American Scientific Publishers

Abstract:

Forest products companies may increase revenue by producing biofuels and chemicals in addition to wood, pulp and paper products in a so called Integrated Forest Biorefinery (IFBR). One form of such a biorefinery is where the hemicelluloses, which normally end up in the blackliquor of a hardwood Kraft mill, are extracted prior to pulping and used for the production of ethanol and acetic acid. The extracted liquor undergoes hydrolysis, separation, fermentation and distillation for the production of acetic acid and ethanol. A computer model was developed for this process using WinGEMS and ASPEN Plus software. The capital and operating cost for the process were estimated by standard methods. The amounts of ethanol and acetic acid produced are relatively small compared to current corn to ethanol and commercial acetic acid plants. This situation results because of the small amount of hemicelluloses extracted which is dictated by pulp quality and pulp yield considerations. The rate of return on investment varies between 7.1% and 13.0% depending upon the size of the pulp mill (750 to 1500 tonne per day) for the case where the utilities and waste treatment facilities are sufficiently large to handle the additional requirements for the process and a suitable vessel is available for upgrading to handle the extraction process. If the utilities and waste treatment system have to be upgraded, then the rate of return on investment decreases to 1.1% to 6.5% depending upon the size of the pulp mill (750 to 1500 tonne per day). In making the capital cost estimates 20% of the cost of a new installed digester was included as the cost of upgrading the extraction vessel and tying it in to the existing pulping process. Installing a new extraction vessel causes the discounted cash flow rates of return to be negative however because of the added capital cost.

Keywords: FOREST BIOREFINERY; HEMICELLULOSE EXTRACTION; GREEN LIQUOR; PULP YIELD; ETHANOL; ACETIC ACID

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1166/jbmb.2008.309

Publication date: 2008-06-01

More about this publication?

• The goal of the creation of a biobased economy is challenging to agriculture, forestry, academia, government and industry. The extractable resources of the Earth are finite, regardless of the quibble over when they will be depleted. The economic, political and social demands for biobased chemicals, materials and energy are expected to radically transform the materials industries, particularly the plastics industry as well as the biofuel industry. These changes will be based on the principles of sustainability, eco-efficiency, industrial ecology, and green chemistry and engineering. In keeping with the growth of knowledge in this field, there is a strong need for a forum to share original research related to biobased materials and bioenergy. The Journal of Biobased Materials and Bioenergy (JBMB) has been created as an international peer-reviewed periodical to fulfill the need for communication in these research areas. This journal will encompass related research activities in all fields of science, engineering and the life sciences.
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