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ePaper created 2014-05-07, 13:23:14 | version 1.30.01
99 Dipl.-Chem. (FH) Gerd Unkelbach Phone +49 3461 43-9101 gerd.unkelbach@igb.fraunhofer.de Dr. Moritz Leschinsky Phone +49 3461 43-9102 moritz.leschinsky@igb.fraunhofer.de The pilot plant was built at the same time as the CBP was con- structed. The pilot plant was successfully put into operation in spring 2013. Since then we have been further optimizing the individual processes as well as the overall process. Addi- tionally, complete mass balances were recorded and product samples on the kilogram scale were distributed to the project partners so that they could carry out technical application tests. Basic feedstocks for chemical and material utilization The intermediate products obtained in the pilot plant – lignin and sugar – serve as feedstocks for utilization as chemical substances and other materials. The sugars achieved from the wood were used by the project partners as a feedstock for industrial biotechnology processes, in order to produce for ex- ample basic chemicals such as lactic acid, acetic acid, succinic acid or ethanol. The advantage of the sugars extracted from wood is that they do not compete with food production. Because of its good thermoplastic properties the lignin ob- tained was used directly by the project partners in compounds for the extrusion of molded parts or as an alternative for the mineral oil-based phenol in resins and polyurethane com- pounds. The project partners also examined various chemical and biotechnological possibilities for lignin cleavage to create basic aromatic constituents. Altogether a large number of processes and products were developed with the sugar and lignin samples from the pilot plant. Outlook With the successful transfer of the organosolv fractionation process to the pilot scale we were able to demonstrate that the chemical utilization of wood using a biorefinery concept works on the technical scale. The pilot plant is being used within various international and national research projects to further optimize the process, to integrate the intermediate products obtained in various value chains and finally to pave the way for the industrial implementation of lignocellulose biorefineries. 1 Pulp washing tank. 2 Simplified flow chart of the lignocellulose biorefinery pilot plant in Leuna. 3 Beech wood stem with pattern for sawing – the sawmill resi- dues are used as a feedstock for the lignocellulose biorefinery. 4 Dewatering of the pulp. Funding We would like to thank the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) and the Agency for Renewable Resources (FNR) for funding the project “Lignocellulose Biorefinery”, pro- motional reference 22022109. Project partners DECHEMA (Coordinator) | Bayer Technology Services GmbH | Evonik-Degussa GmbH | Dynea Erkner GmbH, Tecnaro GmbH | InfraLeuna GmbH | Wacker AG | University of Hamburg | Fraunhofer ICT | Fraunhofer IGB | TU Kaiserslautern | Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) | Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen Further information www.lignocellulose-bioraffinerie.de 3 4 Contacts