'Maxi-fuels' : Testing and further development of a 'fermentation platform' for optimized production of bioenergy (ethanol, hydrogen and methane) from residuals like straw and similar lignocellulosic biomass
The aim of the MaxiFuels project is the pilot-scale testing and further developemnt of the 2nd generation concept for bioethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass with the production of biogas and high-value by-products from the fermentation residuals. The MaxiFuels concept is a patented technology which has proven in lab-scale to have the potential of producing bioethanol from residual biomass for a lower price than other existing 2nd generation bioethanol concepts.
This project is demonstration of the former Danish Bioethanol Concept in a minor Pilot scale in order to achieve the necessary process parameters and design for building a full scale ethanol plant. The concept consists of a patented technology involving an optimized biomass utilisation with both ethanol- and methane production. In the thermofilic fermentation step formation of hydrogen will occur and the overall process will therefore be able to produce ethanol, hydrogen and methane. The Maxi-fuels project has shown a competitive economy compared to other known processes, based on research done in the laboratory. But the Maxi-fuels Concept needs a pilot scale demonstration of the intergraded process before it can be demonstrated in a full scale process, where a continues process will provide process data for a full scale design basis. Beside the demonstration of the overall process, this project will also focus on optimizing evry process step in order to achieve highest possible sugar and ethanol yield based on the available biomasses and pre-treatment. The pilot plant will be started up step-wise so each unit operation can be demonstrated and optimized before the full concept is in operation
This is due to the integration of several innovative processes for the pretreatment, the enzymatic hydrolysis, fermentation of both C6 and C5 sugars, and the conversion of the residual organic compounds into biogas. The MaxiFuels pilot plant implies all the substantial process steps of the integrated concept and is therefore uniqeu in the world for testing of a fully integrated concept for 2nd generation bioethanol together with biogas production. The pilot-scale testing is conducted with respect to a further up-scaling of the process scheme to a later full-scale implementation. At the same time each process step is further optimized in order to maximize the yield of the different biofuels (bioethanol, biogas, hydrogen). After the building of the pilot plant was completed the operation of the plant started in August 2006 using straw as substrate. In the following test phases the equipment for each process was tested and adapted and the yield of each process and their combination was increased by further improvements. The adaptation of the processes made modifications of single tanks and their equipment necessary. Likewise the different process parameters (retention time, dry matter concentration, enzyme concentration etc.) were adapted in the different process steps in order to increase the yield and the productivity of the concept. The pilot plant was operated according to the tasks and milestones as described in the application of the project. The main difference was that the optimization of each process step was conducted side-by-side instead of one-after-the-other in order to shorten the total time for the improvement of the whole concept. The data of the pilot plant operation have been used for the set-up of an economical model of the whole concept. Based on this model a full-scale plant has been designed and a business plan for the implementation of this step has been elaborated. The model, the full-scale design and the business plan has been set up by BioGasol in cooperation with BioCentrum-DTU.
Key figures
Category
Participants
| Partner | Subsidy | Auto financing |
|---|---|---|
| NOVOZYMES A/S | ||
| Energi E2 A/S | ||
| BIOGASOL ApS |
Contact
Søltofts Plads, Bygning 227
DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
Ahring, Birgitte K. (prof., BioCentrum-DTU, EMAB), 45256183, bka@biocentrum.dtu.dk
Øvr. Partnere: Novozymes A/S; E2 A/S
