Bioplastics on the Move! – How Can Plant Engineering React to the Biomass Boom?

Related Vendors

TURCK GmbH

EDL Anlagenbau Gesellschaft mbH

Pörner Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH

DECHEMA e.V.

Technical Hurdles and Solutions for Plant Engineering

To roll out competitive, cost-effective bio-based production on an industrial scale, a number of technical hurdles will have to be overcome. The challenges begin with handling aspects that are closely related to the very nature of biomass. Large quantities have to be harvested, transported and processed.

The sheer volumes are not the only challenge for industry. Diversity is another issue which needs to be addressed. The term biomass extends beyond dry bulk solids such as corn and wood chips to include high-viscosity liquids like sewage sludge and liquid manure. Given this level of diversity, different techniques are needed to move the biomass to the intended destination.

Logistics, Processing and Product Purification – Challenges of Biomass Processes

Logistics is not the only area where special solutions are needed. Biomass has to be stored between delivery and industrial processing. Spontaneous ignition has been a recurring problem with wood chips. The problem is caused by microbial decomposition in the wood. Poor heat conductivity in the bulk materials tends to catalyze the process, often producing smoldering or even open flames.

Besides chemical oxidation reactions which are the largest exothermic factor in the overall process, the German Materials Research and Testing Agency (BAM) has pointed out that physical and microbiological processes play a part in bulk biomass heat management. The information has been published in the Agency's biomass storage fire prevention guidelines.

For example, water adsorption on the surface of relatively dry solids also raises the temperature when adsorption heat is released.

How to Extract and Purify Biomass Products

The need to be very careful is not limited to dry biomass. Building and water management regulations apply to the storage of commercial liquid manure to ensure that overflowing or escaping liquid manure is not released into the sewage system or, even worse, into the ground water.

Following conversion, the products are normally highly diluted, often in the form of complex product mixtures which contain constituents that are very similar to each other. The products also contain various residues and waste products. Fermentation solutions, cell cultures and plant extracts are typical examples. Product purification/downstreaming to meet chemical standards are a big challenge. Large amounts of aqueous solution are normally involved, and the product often still has to be isolated from the organism. Extracting the product from a fermentation broth can often account for 80 % of production costs, making it a major cost factor in biotech production.

The list of additional technological hurdles includes the development of new specific catalysts and biocatalysts. Product inhibition during fermentation can be another problem if high product concentrations are not conducive to the organisms involved. Innovative approaches such as in-situ product isolation or low pH process design can provide the answer.... more on page 4!

(ID:34174160)