Development of a Quality Standard for Agricultural Biomass for Use as Feedstock for

Biobased Chemical Production

Ray Bergstra

World Congress on

Industrial Biotehnology

July 26, 2017

Objectives:

• Identify biomass sources, types of biomass feedstock and processes of interest

• Identify critical characteristics and properties associated with each type of biomass feedstock

• Evaluate and validate standard test methods for qualifying biomass feedstocks

Deliverable:

• Quality Standard of Test Methods for Biomass Feedstocks for biobased chemical production

Biobased Chemicals Sector

• Feedstocks and processes to biobased chemicals are diverse:

– Chemical conversion of natural oils from algae or oilseed crops

– Fermentation of sugars from sugar crops, cereals, and cellulosic sugars from biomass

– Biomass to syngas to chemicals

– Extraction of specialty chemicals

– Lignin via chemical processing and extraction

– Fractionation of pyrolysis oil

– Other fermentation process using methane or methanol

Routes to Biobased Chemicals

Sugar Chemicals

Lignin Chemicals

• Focus of BQN is agricultural-based fibre

• Should be available in sufficient quantities (millions of tonnes?) for industrial scale biochemical production

– Wheat straw

– Corn stover

– Other cereal straws and waste crop fibre

• Processes and products of interest include:

– fermentable sugars

– lignin

– fractionation and extractives

Feedstocks and Processes

What’s the difference?

Analysis of Alberta Feedstocks

• Relevant biobased chemical product areas were identified:

– sugars for fermentation

– acid soluble lignin

– crystalline cellulose

– extractives

• Information was gathered from technical and industry publications , companies, and organizations that process biomass

• Next Step: Define tests to characterize for these biochemical product types

Standard Development

Methods have been well established by numerous organizations (NREL, forestry associations, etc.)

1. Sample Preparation

2. Solids/Moisture Content

3. Ash Content

4. Protein Content

5. Extractives

6. Carbohydrates and Lignin Characterization

7. Sugar Digestibility

Biomass Analysis Already Known

Reinventing the Wheel!!

What can this exercise do to add value and in some way reduce barriers to the supply of biomass for chemicals production?

1. High Speed NIR Spectroscopy– Work with cellulosic biofuels group for adapting NREL NIR

model

2. Field sampling methods, for acquiring representative samples from round bales, for example.– Standard methods for sample preparation are known

– Need a method for coring out a field sample?

– Set stage for fast qualitative determinations (like grading wheat)

3. Initiate development of statistical relevance

Identify Gaps

• Solicit feedback from industry

• Coordinate activities with Biofuels Group

• The collected biomass samples will be reviewed for suitability for round robin testing

• A test matrix will be completed using methods in the draft Quality Standard.

• The results will be analysed statistically and reviewed for their applicability in a final draft of a Quality Standard

• Publish the results

Next Phase of Project

Thank you!

Ray Bergstra

MTN Consulting Associates