Harnessing Bioenergy from Lignin

Muhammad Mufti AzisCSS Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden

STUDENT SUMMIT FOR SUSTAINABILITY (WSC-SD),

UNIVERSITY OF REGINA, SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA MAY 2008

Outline of presentation

Introduction

Motivation

Lignoboost process

Environmental and Socio-economic Gain

Remarks

What is Lignin?

The most complex polymer in polymer in wood. Its main functions are:

It gives stiffness to the cell wall

It glues different cells together

It makes the cell wall hydrophobic

Protection against microbial degradation (Ljungberg Textbook)

Lignin in nature

Taken from: Kirk and Othmer

Environmental and Socioeconomic Impact

From: Kvaerner pulping for non-commercial use

KRAFT Process

Motivation

The original idea was to enhance capacity of pulp mill without huge investment on recovery boiler.

Theoretically, It is possible to achieve energy surplus in pulp mill

If lignin is extracted from black liquor, it opens up possibility to export energy from

pulp mill

PULP MILL

LignoBoost

Taken from: www.lignoboost.com

Lignoboost Process

From: Öhman et.al. 2007

Lignin

Crude OilBiomassNuclearOthers

Energy Supply in Sweden (2006)

From: Swedish Energy Agency

192

201

116

113

Total: 624 TWh

Environmental and Socio-economicAccording to reference mill, It is possible to

achieve CO2 emission -260 Kg CO2 / ADt due to potential to generate energy from black liquor and bark.Incineration of lignin mixed with coal paste shows promising resultWith lignin price 15€/MWh, it is more profitable than upgrading recovery boiler capacity in order to increase mill capacityGovernment supports development of renewable energy by issuing green certificate and imposing tax on fossil fuel

Remarks

“Lignin extraction is a first step to “by-pass” mother nature slow way of producing fuel and chemicals based on hydrocarbons.” (Prof. Hans Theliander)