Lignocellulosic Biomass to Ethanol Process Design and Economics Utilizing Co-Current Dilute Acid Prehydrolysis and Enzymatic Hydrolysis Current and Futuristic Scenarios

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has undertaken a complete review and update of the process design and economic model for the biomass-to-ethanol process based on co-current dilute acid prehydrolysis, along with simultaneous saccharification (enzymatic) and co-fermentation. The process...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Wooley, Robert, Ruth, Mark, Sheehan, John, Ibsen, Kelly, Majdeski, Henry, Galvez, Adrian
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
Biochemistry
ECONOMIC MODELS
Economics and Cost Analysis
ETHANOLS
HYDROLYSIS
LIGNIN
Organic Chemistry
TURBOGENERATORS
WASTE WATER
WATER TREATMENT
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Summary:The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has undertaken a complete review and update of the process design and economic model for the biomass-to-ethanol process based on co-current dilute acid prehydrolysis, along with simultaneous saccharification (enzymatic) and co-fermentation. The process design includes the core technologies being researched by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE): prehydrolysis, simultaneous saccharification and co-fermentation, and cellulase enzyme production. In addition, all ancillary areas feed handling, product recovery and purification, wastewater treatment lignin burner and boiler-turbogenerator, and utilities are included. NREL engaged Delta-T Corporation to assist in the process design evaluation, the process equipment costing, and overall plant integration. The process design and costing for the lignin burner and boiler turbogenerator has been reviewed by Reaction Engineering Inc. and the wastewater treatment by Merrick & Company. An overview of both reviews is included here. The purpose of this update was to ensure that the process design and equipment costs were reasonable and consistent with good engineering practice for plants of this type using available technical data. For the non-research areas this means using equipment and process approaches as they are currently being used in industrial applications. For areas currently being researched by NREL, we used the best research estimates of near-term data to develop a process design and equipment specifications consistent with existing similar commercial operations. The original document contains color images.