BornBioFuel2: A fully integrated 2nd generation bioethanol demonstration plant on the island of Bornholm based on the Maxifuel concept

The project objective was to realize a demonstration plant capable of converting biomass (straw) to ethanol at a capacity of five (5) million liters ethanol per year using a combination of acid catalysed thermal hydrolysis, anaerobic, high-temperature fermentation of C5 sugars and enzymatic conversion of cellullose and yeast fermentation of C6 sugars. The project demonstrated two innovative technology solutions:

1) A highly efficient pretreatment reactor (CarbofracÒ) and process for achieving mild acid hydrolysis / steam explosion pretreatment of biomass (straw) and

2) an anaerobic, high temperature process, equipment and production organism,

for C5 sugar conversion to ethanol (PentofermÒ). The scale realized for

1) corresponds to

more than two (2) million liters per year (at 80% availability), while for

2) the realized scale corresponds to 20.000 liters per year. The solutions developed in the project are being evaluated by the industry, including the world’s largest ethanol producer. Three CarbofracÒ reactors (50kg/h and 500kg/h under the BornBiofuel1 project and a 1 t/h unit under the CBF project) have been manufactured and demonstrated with external partners.