The feasibility study of a new large forest biorefinery in Sweden yields positive results

By -


Processum is a subsidiary of the RISE group, part of the Bioeconomy Division, which supports and initiates research and development activities within the field of the biorefineries. It was started in 2003 and is situated in Örnsköldsvik (Sweden). Last month, this Swedish company announced that the feasibility study carried out as part of the project “Flagship Biorefinery” had had a positive outcome (see press release, 19/10/2017). Such project is aimed to investigate the prerequisites to realise a new, full scale biorefinery based on sustainable wood raw material from Swedish forests. Processum has been in charge of the project which has been supported by 13 companies representing a complete value chain.

Pöyry, the international consulting and engineering company, prepared the feasibility study which was presented to the project steering group. The results show that an investment in the proposed biorefinery can be profitable and provide positive contributions to the bioeconomy. Jonas Joelsson, Research Manager at Processum and project leader of Flagship Biorefinery, said: "The results presented by Pöyry suggest good prerequisites for a plant of this type. However, one needs to be aware that the realisation of such a plant is a long process. The feasibility study was the first step, giving the basis for a decision to invest. It will be very interesting to follow the further development of this project in the future."

The planned biorefinery would be based on a sulphite pulping process. It would be a novelty since last announcements about large investments in the sector are linked to sulphate pulping process (see Bioproduct mills – Pillars of the new forest bioeconomy). The following table summarizes the information contained in the press release about it as well as some additional data kindly provided by Jonas Joelsonn.

Location
Existing Domsjö site in Örnsköldsvik.
Feedstock
Scandinavian softwood (sawmill residues and small diameter wood unsuitable for sawmilling).
Products and production capacity
- Cellulose for textile applications would be the largest product. The scale currently under consideration is around 1 million tons per year.
- Several alternative bioproducts were taken into account during the feasibility study: ethanol, methanol, lignosulphonate and proteins.
Technology
Similar technology as the existing Domsjö Fabriker Biorefinery in Örnsköldsvik which applies a sulphite pulping process to fractionate the feedstock.
Timeline
The next step is to investigate how to safeguard sufficient supply of feedstock and how to finance the investment.
If plans are realized as foreseen, the facility could be operating in 2023.

Figure 1. Existing Domsjö site in Örnsköldsvik (extracted from Domsjö website). The future biorefinery would be located there.

Popular Posts

Biofuels from algae

By -
Image
In my opinion, the production of biofuels and biobased chemicals from algae is one of the most fascinating topics in the sector of the biorefineries and it will be one of the niches of opportunity with highest potential in the medium and the long terms. This post pretend to be a very basic approach to the topic Algae-to-Biofuels through three general key points. Algae 1,2,3,4,5 Algae include a wide variety of photosynthetic organisms capable of transforming light, water and specific nutrients into products that can be used with commercial and industrial purposes. We can say that algae are sunlight-driven factories with potential to convert CO 2 into biofuels, high-value biochemical, food and feed. There are four algae cultivation technologies currently in use for commercial algae cultivation and proposed for algal biofuel production: extensive or open ponds, intensive or raceway ponds, closed photobioreactors in many designs and closed fermenter systems. Algal biof
Read more

Hidrotratamiento (HVO) – Conceptos, materias primas y especificaciones

By -
Image
English version Sección: BIOCOMBUSTIBLES AVANZADOS Serie: HVO - Hidrotratamiento (HVO) – Conceptos, materias primas y especificaciones - Hidrotratamiento(HVO) – Ventajas sobre el biodiesel convencional y propiedades - Biorrefinerías de Aceites Vegetales Hidrotatados (HVO) – El auge del diésel renovable - Entradas: HVO                El acrónimo HVO significa en inglés “ Hydrotreated Vegetable Oils ” (“Aceites Vegetales Hidrotratados”) o ” Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils ” (“Aceites Vegetales Hidrogenados”). Clave del proceso: Tratamiento con hidrógeno. En el proceso de producción de HVO, el hidrógeno se usa para eliminar el oxígeno de los triglicéridos produciendo una mezcla de parafinas lineales, CO 2 y agua. Posteriormente, el producto de la primera etapa se isomeriza, siempre en presencia de hidrógeno, para ramificar las cadenas lineales con el propósito de mejorar las propiedades de flujo en frío de los productos finales. Por tanto, los HVO son
Read more

Biorrefinerías de FDCA (ácido 2,5-furanodicarboxílico)

By -
Image
Fecha de publicación: 15/06/2017 Última actualización: 24/01/2018 Introducción 1,2,3,4,5 El ácido 2,5-furanodicarboxílico (FDCA, por sus siglas en inglés), también conocido como ácido ácido piromúcico, es un compuesto orgánico que fue detectado por primera vez en la orina humana. De hecho, una persona sana genera 3-5 mg/día. Se trata de un compuesto muy estable. Algunas de sus propiedades físicas, tales como insolubilidad en la mayor parte de disolventes y un punto de fusión muy alto (funde a 342ºC), parecen indicar la existencia de enlaces de hidrógeno intermoleculares. El FDCA posee dos grupos carboxilo, lo que le convierte en un monómero adecuado para reacciones de policondensación con dioles o diaminas. Es uno de los 12 principales compuestos químicos de alta valor añadido listados por el el DoE de los Estados Unidos en 2004. Esta lista se actualizó en 2010 y el FDCA fue incluido de nuevo, pero esta vez en un grupo junto con el furfural y el 5-hidroximetilfurfu
Read more

Fast pyrolysis plants

By -
Image
Versión en Español Type of post: OVERVIEW. Posts: PYROLYSIS OIL PLATFORM . Fast pyrolysis Process Rapid thermal decomposition of organic compounds in the absence of oxygen to produce liquids, char and gas. Temperature Around 500ºC. Residence time 0.5 - 2 s Typical yields distribution - Oil: 60-70%. - Char: 12-15%. - Gas: 13-25%. Bio-oil characteristics - Low viscosity, dark-brown fluid. - Carboxylic acids: 4-6 w%. - Aldehydes, ketones, furans, pyrans, monomeric phenols: 15-20 w%. - Sugars: 25-35 w%. - Water: 20-30 w%. - Pyrolytic lignin, extractives, solids (including ash), polymerisation products: 20-25 w%. Bio-oil applications - Heating fuel. - Production of advanced biofuels. - Production of food ingredients. - Production of bitumen and coatings. Figure 1. Pyrolysis oil (taken
Read more

Etanol celulósico – Lo básico: Conceptos y materias primas

By -
Image
English version Sección: BIOCOMBUSTIBLES AVANZADOS Serie: Etanol celulósico - Lo básico: Concepto y materias primas - Lo básico: Ruta de conversión –Bioquímica - Lo básico: Ruta de conversión –Termoquímica - Cellulosic ethanol biorefineries at commercial scale Entradas: ETANOL CELULÓSICO 1. Conceptos generales El etanol (también conocido como alcohol etílico, alcohol para beber o simplemente alcohol) es un líquido volátil, inflamable e incoloro con la fórmula molecular C 2 H 6 O (también se puede escribir como CH 3 CH 2 OH y C 2 H 5 OH) y a menudo se abrevia como EtOH. La Asociación Europea de Etanol Renovable (ePURE) afirma que el mercado del etanol se puede dividir en tres segmentos: (1) Combustible : etanol utilizado como aditivo en la gasolina o como combustible alternativo. (2) Potable : etanol utilizado para producir bebidas espirituosas, como aditivo alimentario, para la extracción de aromas, para la conservación de alimentos y
Read more