2-05: Optimizing pretreatment for tailor made process equipment

Lignocellulosic biomass, e.g. wheat straw, corn stover, poplar, sugarcane bagasse, are potential sustainable substrates for usage within second generation biofuel industry and chemical production. For feasible biomass utilization a proper pretreatment is necessary. However, different pretreatment strategies are needed for different lignocellulosic biomass. Strategies may vary within temperature, reaction time, additives and concentration of the additives. Furthermore, strategies may also vary with regard to the end product in mind.

BioGasol has specialized in the construction of continuous pretreatment equipment for lignocellulose utilization. The equipment can be tailor made for each strategy needed from a costumer with regard to biomass, end product and capacity. Continuous pretreatment equipment for a great variety of purposes requires thorough optimization. The optimization of pretreatment is carried out by statistical design experiments. From the optimization experiments response surface models are produced which show the relevant conditions for optimal pretreatment of biomass with respect to release of xylose and arabinose, minimal inhibitors production and susceptibility of cellulose for enzymatic degradation.

This presentation will show results of the experimental design and sweetspot analysis carried out on several types of biomass. The sweetspot analysis shows the optimal pretreatment conditions for maximizing the release of saccharides and minimizing production of inhibitors as a function of the pretreatment parameters. The results show that the sweetspots vary with biomass type, with optimal conditions for maximal lignocellulosic biomass utilization found at 166 °C/0.44 v/w acid for wheat straw, 162 °C/0.35 v/w acid for poplar, 167 °C/0.66 v/w acid for green waste.