MRPL is planning to build a 2G ethanol biorefinery in India driven by LanzaTech fermentation and Ankur Scientific small-scale gasification



Type of post: NEWS. 

Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL), Indian oil & gas company based in Mangalore, is planning to build a second generation (2G) ethanol facility in the State of Karnataka (India). A local distributed model will integrate the gas fermentation technology of LanzaTech with the gasification technology from Ankur Scientific
Press release: “Advanced Biofuel Facility Gets Green Light in India”, 15/9/2020. 
Related posts: 

Figure 1. Gasification process of Ankur Scientific - Ultra clean gas mode (taken from the website of the company) 

MRPL has awarded LanzaTech the contract to commence the basic engineering for an integrated processing facility to convert locally available agricultural residues to approximately 16 ktons/year (5.3 MGal/year) of fuel grade ethanol. To convert the solid biomass wastes to gases, LanzaTech will deploy commercially proven gasification technology from Ankur Scientific, a waste to energy company that specializes in distributed production, based in Vadodara (India). The resulting carbon rich gas will then be converted to ethanol using LanzaTech’s gas fermentation platform. 

The integrated technology will have the flexibility to process a wide range of biomass feedstocks enabling rapid replication at other locations. A by-product of the project will be a nutrient rich biochar. This will be used as a sustainable and low carbon source of fertilizer for the local community. 

The Indian Government is encouraging production of cellulosic ethanol from agricultural wastes and residues that would otherwise be burnt on the fields and create harmful pollution. Not only does conversion to ethanol create a new source of income for local farmers, it is also in line with the governments biofuels roadmap to increase production of 2G, non-food or feed based ethanol across the country to meet its 20% ethanol blending mandate by 2030.

Popular Posts

Biofuels from algae

Hidrotratamiento (HVO) – Conceptos, materias primas y especificaciones

Etanol celulósico – Lo básico: Conceptos y materias primas

Biorrefinerías de ácido levulínico

FDCA (2,5-furandicarboxylic acid) biorefineries