Getting value out of biomass, high value chemicals from ligno-cellulose

Science for the Environment Conference, 2013

October 2013Ib Johannsen, Head of Department, Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University

Science for the Environment Conference, 2013

Department of Chemistry

10 Profs.

20 Associate Profs.

3 Assistant Profs.

38 techs/Adm

~70 Post docs

~125 Phd Students

~100 Masters students

~350 undergrad. Majors

ALWAYS OPEN TO NEW

COLLABORATIONS !

AARHUSUNIVERSITY

Department of Chemistry, AU:Focus on driving fundamental science and

contribute to solving global challenges like

• Materiales og energy for the future

• Fron liniar to circular economy:

-

• Energy materials• Catalytic conversion• Green Chemistry• Hydrothermal

conversion• Analytical Chemistry• Polymer Chemistry

AARHUSUNIVERSITY

Biobased Economy? Plants are not efficient energy converters

A fraction of a percent of solar energy received per sq. m is stored in biomass

Finite amounts of agricultural waste available

Thus need to focus on value added products:• Fuels for transport (0.1-0.5 €/kg)• Commodity chemicals and monomers (0.5 – 5 €/kg)• Biopolymers/fibres (0.2 – 3 €/kg)

Huge challenge and opportunity. • Exploit chemical ‘information’• Need to reinvent chemical industry and production

AARHUSUNIVERSITY

Does it make a difference?

Currently, as much as 15% of global energy consumption is used in the production of chemicals and chemical products from oil and gas,

Accounts for almost 50% of the added value in the total fossil oil processing chain (Turnover 2007: €2300 billion and expected in 2012: €2700 billion)

Huge carbon footprint

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STRATEGIC PLATFORM FOR BIOREFINERYRESEARCH AND INNOVATION

AARHUSUNIVERSITY BIO‐VALUE partners

An innovation‐driven platform with a stronginvolvement of industrial companies and  

university partners in all projects(KU,DTU,AU, AAU)

Funding: 22 million € over 4 years

50 % from Danish Research Councils50 % from partners

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Research targets• Development of 

biomass supply chains• Processing of all 

components of the biomass into value‐added products

BIO‐VALUE research

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BIO‐VALUE structure(1) Innovative biomass production

systems

(2) Products from green biomass

(3) Upgraded sugar streams from

biomass

(4) Lysine production -fermentative

(5) Catalytic conversion of

carbohydrate streams

(6) Value-added products from

lignin

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BIO‐VALUE objectives

•Develop a strong research base delivering fundamental knowledge on conversion of plant biomass into value‐added products

•Develop novel core biorefining technologies

•Demonstrate sustainable, competitive large‐scale upgrading of biomass into intermediates and specific products

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A few examples

(5) Catalytic conversion of carbohydrate streams

Direct conversion of sugars to Lactates and derived products:

Katalyst

60% yield

Partners: Haldor Topsøe A/S, DTU, AU

AARHUSUNIVERSITY

A few examples

(6) Value-added products from lignin Hydrothermal conversion lignin to phenolic products and binders:

HydroThermalconversion

Partners: Borregaard, Rockwool, AU, DTU, KU

Phenols

Guiacol Vanilin

Oligomers

Binders

AARHUSUNIVERSITY

Biorefining research in Aarhus,Active in all parts of the value chainOne example:Hydrothermal conversion of wet biomas to Bio-oil and chemicals

Sub and super critical conditions› Operation conditions› Temperature: 250-400 °C› Pressure: 100-300 bar

AARHUSUNIVERSITY

AU STOP-FLOW REACTOR

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HYDROTHERMAL LIQUEFACTION

› Converts wet biomass to bio-oil.

› Operation conditions› Temperature: 250-400 °C› Pressure: 100-300 bar

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DDGS

Biomass

K2CO3

Water

HTL Process

Inlet

350°C

250 bar

HTL PROCESS

HTL Process

Outlet

Bio-oil recovering

Biomass

decomposition

Polymerization

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BIO-OIL CHARACTERISTICS –ELEMENTAL COMPOSITION

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BIO-OIL CHARACTERISTICS –ELEMENTAL COMPOSITION

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KEY POINTS› Low oxygen, sulphur and water content (excellent

storage properties even of raw oil)› Simple thermal upgrading› Flexible feedstock (any wet biomass)› High heating value› Energy efficient (recovers >85% of energy)

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STOP FLOW ADVANTAGES› Inert reaction environment› Versatile› Accepts most types of biomass› General high temperature, high pressure reactor› Extensive parameter control

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EXAMPLES OF HTL STUDIES› Reaction temperature study› Temperature range: 300-400°C

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CONVENTIONAL WISDOM

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PARAMETER CONTROL

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REACTION TEMPERATURE STUDY

The highest oil yield and best oil quality is obtained at 400°C and 250 bar

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PARAMETER CONTROL

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CATALYTIC STUDY

Heterogenouscatalysts notimportant =>

FLOW REACTOR

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SUMMARY ON HTL

› Exchange the burden of disposal with the benefit of recycling.

› Great potential for HTL Oil in the energy and transportation sector

› HTL as a source for green chemicals using definedfeeds like lignin

VERSITy

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGYAARHUS UNIVERSITY

UNI

BIOREFINING

3 messages:-Focus on value added products-A new strong platform - Biovalue-An example and an invitation

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS› Funding from national research councils, including

the SPIR programme

› Biovalue programme partners: › Novozymes A/S, Haldor Topsøe A/S, Arla Foods, Rockwool, DLG, …. › University of Copenhagen, The Technical University of Denmark, Aarhus

University, Aalborg University

› Dept. of Chemistry (and iNANO):› Bo Brummersted Iversen, Marianne Glasius, Jacob Becker, Anders Mørup,

Aref Mamakhel, Henrik H. Jensen, Troels Skrydstrup

› Thanks (for staying on)

AARHUSUNIVERSITY

Department of Chemistry

10 Profs.

20 Associate Profs.

3 Assistant Profs.

38 techs/Adm

~70 Post docs

~125 Phd Students

~100 Masters students

~350 undergrad. Majors

ALWAYS OPEN TO NEW

COLLABORATIONS !

AARHUSUNIVERSITY

Welcome to Aarhus University--We look forward to extending ourcollaborations

IBJ@Chem.au.dk