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Jhuma Sadhukhan - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • A critical review of integration analysis of microbial electrosynthesis (MES) systems with waste Biorefineries for the production of biofuel and chemical from reuse of CO2
    Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2016
    Co-Authors: Jhuma Sadhukhan, Jon R. Lloyd, Eileen H. Yu, Tom Curtis, Giuliano C Premier, Keith Scott, Ian M. Head
    Abstract:

    Despite some success with microbial fuel cells and microbial electrolysis cells in recovering resources from wastes, challenges with their scale and yield need to be resolved. Waste streams from Biorefineries e.g. bioethanol and biodiesel plants and wastewaters are plausible substrates for microbial electrosynthesis (MES). MES integration can help Biorefineries achieving the full polygeneration potentials, i.e. recovery of metals turning apparently pollutants from Biorefineries into resources, production of biofuels and chemicals from reuse of CO2 and clean water. Symbiotic integration between the two systems can attain an economic and environmental upside of the overall system. We envision that electrochemical technologies and waste Biorefineries can be integrated for increased efficiency and competitiveness with stillage released from the latter process used in the former as feedstock and energy resource recovered from the former used in the latter. Such symbiotic integration can avoid loss of material and energy from waste streams, thereby increasing the overall efficiency, economics and environmental performance that would serve towards delivering the common goals from both the systems. We present an insightful overview of the sources of organic wastes from Biorefineries for integration with MES, anodic and cathodic substrates and biocatalysts. In addition, a generic and effective reaction and thermodynamic modelling framework for the MES has been given for the first time. The model is able to predict multi-component physico-chemical behaviour, technical feasibility and best configuration and conditions of the MES for resource recovery from waste streams.

  • Biorefineries and chemical processes design integration and sustainability analysis
    2014
    Co-Authors: Jhuma Sadhukhan
    Abstract:

    As the range of feedstocks, process technologies and products expand, Biorefineries will become increasingly complex manufacturing systems. Biorefineries and Chemical Processes: Design, Integration and Sustainability Analysis presents process modelling and integration, and whole system life cycle analysis tools for the synthesis, design, operation and sustainable development of biorefinery and chemical processes. Topics covered include: Introduction: An introduction to the concept and development of Biorefineries. Tools: Included here are the methods for detailed economic and environmental impact analyses; combined economic value and environmental impact analysis; life cycle assessment (LCA); multi-criteria analysis; heat integration and utility system design; mathematical programming based optimization and genetic algorithms. Process synthesis and design: Focuses on modern unit operations and innovative process flowsheets. Discusses thermochemical and biochemical processing of biomass, production of chemicals and polymers from biomass, and processes for carbon dioxide capture. Biorefinery systems: Presents biorefinery process synthesis using whole system analysis. Discusses bio-oil and algae Biorefineries, integrated fuel cells and renewables, and heterogeneous catalytic reactors. Companion website: Four case studies, additional exercises and examples are available online, together with three supplementary chapters which address waste and emission minimization, energy storage and control systems, and the optimization and reuse of water. This textbook is designed to bridge a gap between engineering design and sustainability assessment, for advanced students and practicing process designers and engineers.

Hua-jiang Huang - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Process Modeling of Comprehensive Integrated Forest Biorefinery—An Integrated Approach
    Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 2009
    Co-Authors: Hua-jiang Huang, Shri Ramaswamy, Ulrike Tschirner
    Abstract:

    The key to expanding the energy supply, increasing energy security, and reducing the dependency on foreign oil is to develop advanced technologies to efficiently transform our renewable bioresources into domestically produced bioenergy and bioproducts. Conventional Biorefineries, i.e., forest products industry’s pulp and paper mills with long history of sustainable utilization of lignocellulose (wood), offer a suitable platform for being expanded into future integrated forest Biorefineries. Due to the pre-existing infrastructure in current forest products operations, this could present a very cost-effective approach to future Biorefineries. In order to better understand the overall process, technical, economic, and environmental impacts, a detailed process modeling of the whole integrated forest biorefinery is presented here. This approach uses a combination of Aspen Plus®, WinGEMS®, and Microsoft Excel® to simulate the entire biorefinery in detail with sophisticated communication interface between the three simulations. Preliminary results for a simple case study of an integrated biorefinery show the feasibility of this approach. Further investigations, including additional details, more process options, and complete integration, are currently underway.

  • Process modeling of comprehensive integrated forest biorefinery--an integrated approach.
    Applied biochemistry and biotechnology, 2009
    Co-Authors: Hua-jiang Huang, Shri Ramaswamy, Weilu Lin, Ulrike Tschirner
    Abstract:

    The key to expanding the energy supply, increasing energy security, and reducing the dependency on foreign oil is to develop advanced technologies to efficiently transform our renewable bioresources into domestically produced bioenergy and bioproducts. Conventional Biorefineries, i.e., forest products industry's pulp and paper mills with long history of sustainable utilization of lignocellulose (wood), offer a suitable platform for being expanded into future integrated forest Biorefineries. Due to the pre-existing infrastructure in current forest products operations, this could present a very cost-effective approach to future Biorefineries. In order to better understand the overall process, technical, economic, and environmental impacts, a detailed process modeling of the whole integrated forest biorefinery is presented here. This approach uses a combination of Aspen Plus, WinGEMS, and Microsoft Excel to simulate the entire biorefinery in detail with sophisticated communication interface between the three simulations. Preliminary results for a simple case study of an integrated biorefinery show the feasibility of this approach. Further investigations, including additional details, more process options, and complete integration, are currently underway.

  • a review of separation technologies in current and future Biorefineries
    Separation and Purification Technology, 2008
    Co-Authors: Hua-jiang Huang, Shri Ramaswamy, Ulrike Tschirner, Bandaru V Ramarao
    Abstract:

    Abstract Biorefineries process bioresources such as agriculture or forest biomass to produce energy and a wide variety of precursor chemicals and bio-based materials, similar to the modern petroleum refineries. Industrial platform chemicals such as acetic acid, liquid fuels such as bioethanol and biodegradable plastics such as polyhydroxyalkanoates can be produced from wood and other lignocellulosic biomass. Biorefineries use a variety of separation methods often to produce high value co-products from the various feed streams. In this paper, a critical review of separation methods and technologies related to biorefining including pre-extraction of hemicellulose and other value-added chemicals, detoxification of fermentation hydrolyzates, and ethanol product separation and dehydration is presented. For future Biorefineries, extractive distillation with ionic liquids and hyperbranched polymers, adsorption with molecular sieve and bio-based adsorbents, nanofiltration, extractive-fermentation, membrane pervaporation in bioreactors, and vacuum membrane distillation (VMD) hold significant potential and great promise for further investigation, development and application.

Frank Lipnizki - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Membrane processes and applications for Biorefineries
    Current Trends and Future Developments on (Bio-) Membranes, 2020
    Co-Authors: Frank Lipnizki, Johan Thuvander, Gregor Rudolph
    Abstract:

    The chapter provides an overview of membrane applications in conventional and lignocellulosic Biorefineries. Driven by the trend towards “white biotechnology” the market and applications for membrane processes in Biorefineries are growing rapidly since membrane processes have been identified as energy-efficient and highly selective separation processes in the different stages of biorefining. The applications of membrane processes in Biorefineries cover the pre-treatment of the raw materials, the product recovery after reaction and the downstream processing plus in-take water preparation and wastewater treatment. The first part of the chapter will focus on conventional Biorefineries using starch and sugars as well as vegetable oils as raw materials to produce bioethanol, biodiesel and biochemicals. In the second part of the chapter the focus is on lignocellulosic Biorefineries using e.g. wood and agricultural raw materials. Overall, the chapter demonstrates that membrane processes have a great potential in current conventional Biorefineries but also in the increasingly important concepts of lignocellulosic Biorefineries. (Less)

  • Separations in Biorefineries
    2014
    Co-Authors: Frank Lipnizki
    Abstract:

    1. IntroductionThe starting point of modern biotechnology is often defined by the production of lactic acid by Pasteur in 1857 and the discovery of penicillin by Fleming in 1928. During this first wave of biotechnological processes moved production of e.g. antibiotics and amino acids from laboratory to industrial scale. The second wave of biotechnological processes started with the discovery of the DNA structure by Crick and Watson in 1953 which opened the doors for molecular engineering allowing to recombine DNA. The end of the 20th century marked the beginning of the third wave of biotechnology focusing on the replacement of chemical processes using C2/C3 chemistry based on oil and gas by biotechnological processes. Membranes have been successfully integrated into biotechnology production processes since the invention of the phase inversion membrane by Sidney and Sourirajan in the 1960ies and are under investigation to become key separation processes in the development of future Biorefineries. 2. Future BiorefineriesBiorefineries are integrated biotech facilities aiming on full utilization of feedstock for the simultaneous production of e.g. food, biofuels and biochemical (1). Examples are the integrated production of biofuels and/or biopolymers from sugar and/or cellulose-based feedstock as part of sugar/starch factories or pulp mills. In these Biorefineries the applications of membranes can be both in the production or water loop of the process. 2.1 Production loopDepending on the raw material, e.g. wood biomass or starch, the initial step is the pre-treatment and conversion to sugars. The sugars - if diluted - can then be concentrated by reverse osmosis and polished by microfiltration/ultrafiltration before fermentation. During fermentation, the biofuels/biochemicals are produced and can be continuously removed by e.g. microfiltration/ultrafiltration/pervaporation to prevent product inhibitions from stopping the fermentation. Subsequently, microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis and pervaporation can be used for concentration and/or polishing of the biofuels/biochemicals. In Figure 1, an overview of different membrane opportunities is given. Figure 1:Membrane opportunities in Biorefineries for biochemical and biofuel production loop (2).2.2 Water loop Another important loop in bio-refineries is the water loop. Since membrane processes are already well-established to upgrade in-take water in other industries e.g. using a cascade process consisting of ultrafiltration as pre-filtration step followed by reverse osmosis, it can be foreseen that membrane will also establish themselves also in Biorefineries for this position. Additionally, membrane processes can be used for in-process water recycling e.g. using reverse osmosis as evaporator condensate polisher or they can be integrated in the wastewater treatment plants membrane bioreactor for end-of-pipe treatment. Hence, membrane processes can be an important tool in the water loop of Biorefineries maximizing water utilization and minimizing water discharge. 3. Concluding outlookOverall, membrane processes have a great potential to become key separation unit in the concept of Biorefineries considering their highly selectivity and low energy consumption. Potential key applications can be found in both the production and water loop of Biorefineries and main R&D efforts in the industry are currently focusing on scaling these potential applications from laboratory to pilot and ultimately full-scale. (Less)

  • membrane processes in Biorefineries based on lignocellulosic biomass membrane opportunities in the production and water loop
    ICOM 2014 Conference, 2014
    Co-Authors: Frank Lipnizki, Aurelie Dupuy, Annsofi Jonsson
    Abstract:

    Biorefineries are the backbone of “white biotechnology”, the 3rd wave of biotechnology which aims to replace classic C2/C3 chemistry by biotechnological processes. In analogy to petrorefineries Biorefineries aim at the integrated and simultaneous production of bulk products, as e.g. biofuels, or biopolymers, heat and power, using biomass. In order to avoid any competition with food production the focus in recent years is on lignocellulosic biomass such as wood and agricultural residues as raw material for Biorefineries. One of the key success factors of Biorefineries is the integration of high-selective low energy separation processes such as membrane processes either as stand-alone units or as process synergies, e.g. the combination of membrane processes with separators or evaporators. Key applications of membrane processes can be found in the production and water loop of Biorefineries. The first part of the presentation will focus on the production loop. In the initial step of the biorefinery the lignocellulosic biomass needs ideally to be separated into its three key components: hemicelluloses, lignin and cellulose. This can either be done by appropriate pre-treatment methods with e.g. heat or chemical treatment, or by utilizing suitable process/waste streams from pulp mills. In particular the pressure-based membrane processes microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration and reverse osmosis have been proven to be suitable for the concentration and purification of these key components. Hemicelluloses can be concentrated and purified by ultra- and nanofiltration for the production of barrier films and coatings. Lignin, either as ligninsulfonate from the sulfite pulping process, or lignin in black liquor of the kraft pulping process, can be concentrated and classified by ultrafiltration to be used e.g. as binding agent. The cellulosic part can be hydrolyzed to sugars. After hydrolysation the sugars can be purified by a decanter-ultrafiltration process and then - if required - concentrated by reverse osmosis before fermentation. In order to prevent product inhibition during the fermentation a micro- or ultrafiltration unit can be directly integrated into the fermentation of the biofuel/biochemical. In the subsequent step residual sugars can be separated from the biofuel/biochemical by nanofiltration or reverse osmosis. Furthermore, pervaporation and vapor permeation might be used in combination with distillation in the final concentration step. The second part of the presentation will focus on the water loop. This section will cover the upgrading of in-take water by a cascade of ultrafiltration followed by reverse osmosis as well as the recycling of water in processes such as evaporator condensate polishing by reverse osmosis. Furthermore the opportunities of using a membrane bioreactor for end-of-pipe treatment in Biorefineries will be discussed. Overall, it will be demonstrated that membrane processes as highly selective and energy-saving separation processes have the potential to become key units of operation in the concept of Biorefineries. The contents of the presentation will be supported by application and case studies. (Less)

  • Membrane processes in Biorefineries: Opportunities and challenges to integrate membrane processes
    2013
    Co-Authors: Frank Lipnizki
    Abstract:

    Biorefineries are integrated biotech facilities aiming on full utilization of feedstock for the simultaneous production of e.g. food, biofuels and biochemicals. This presentation will provide an overview supported by case and application studies on the integration of membrane processes into Biorefineries. Starting with the pre-treatment of the raw material e.g. wood biomass or starch, micro- (MF) and ultrafiltration (UF) can be integrated in the extraction and polishing of the raw materials followed by the conversion of the raw materials into sugar. These sugars can then be polished by a decanter – UF synergy process and - if diluted - concentrated by reverse osmosis (RO) before fermentation. During fermentation, the biofuels/biochemicals are produced and can be continuously removed by e.g. MF/UF/pervaporation (PV) to prevent product inhibitions from stopping the fermentation. Subsequently, MF, UF, nanofiltration (NF), RO and PV can be used for concentration/polishing of the biofuels/biochemicals. Furthermore, membranes can be used to close the water loop of Biorefineries by e.g. using RO for evaporator condensate polishing or membrane bioreactors (MBRs) for the end-of-pipe treatment. Overall this presentation will highlight the opportunities of membrane processes in Biorefineries, a key concept in solving future’s energy and environmental challenges. (Less)

Ulrike Tschirner - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Process Modeling of Comprehensive Integrated Forest Biorefinery—An Integrated Approach
    Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 2009
    Co-Authors: Hua-jiang Huang, Shri Ramaswamy, Ulrike Tschirner
    Abstract:

    The key to expanding the energy supply, increasing energy security, and reducing the dependency on foreign oil is to develop advanced technologies to efficiently transform our renewable bioresources into domestically produced bioenergy and bioproducts. Conventional Biorefineries, i.e., forest products industry’s pulp and paper mills with long history of sustainable utilization of lignocellulose (wood), offer a suitable platform for being expanded into future integrated forest Biorefineries. Due to the pre-existing infrastructure in current forest products operations, this could present a very cost-effective approach to future Biorefineries. In order to better understand the overall process, technical, economic, and environmental impacts, a detailed process modeling of the whole integrated forest biorefinery is presented here. This approach uses a combination of Aspen Plus®, WinGEMS®, and Microsoft Excel® to simulate the entire biorefinery in detail with sophisticated communication interface between the three simulations. Preliminary results for a simple case study of an integrated biorefinery show the feasibility of this approach. Further investigations, including additional details, more process options, and complete integration, are currently underway.

  • Process modeling of comprehensive integrated forest biorefinery--an integrated approach.
    Applied biochemistry and biotechnology, 2009
    Co-Authors: Hua-jiang Huang, Shri Ramaswamy, Weilu Lin, Ulrike Tschirner
    Abstract:

    The key to expanding the energy supply, increasing energy security, and reducing the dependency on foreign oil is to develop advanced technologies to efficiently transform our renewable bioresources into domestically produced bioenergy and bioproducts. Conventional Biorefineries, i.e., forest products industry's pulp and paper mills with long history of sustainable utilization of lignocellulose (wood), offer a suitable platform for being expanded into future integrated forest Biorefineries. Due to the pre-existing infrastructure in current forest products operations, this could present a very cost-effective approach to future Biorefineries. In order to better understand the overall process, technical, economic, and environmental impacts, a detailed process modeling of the whole integrated forest biorefinery is presented here. This approach uses a combination of Aspen Plus, WinGEMS, and Microsoft Excel to simulate the entire biorefinery in detail with sophisticated communication interface between the three simulations. Preliminary results for a simple case study of an integrated biorefinery show the feasibility of this approach. Further investigations, including additional details, more process options, and complete integration, are currently underway.

  • a review of separation technologies in current and future Biorefineries
    Separation and Purification Technology, 2008
    Co-Authors: Hua-jiang Huang, Shri Ramaswamy, Ulrike Tschirner, Bandaru V Ramarao
    Abstract:

    Abstract Biorefineries process bioresources such as agriculture or forest biomass to produce energy and a wide variety of precursor chemicals and bio-based materials, similar to the modern petroleum refineries. Industrial platform chemicals such as acetic acid, liquid fuels such as bioethanol and biodegradable plastics such as polyhydroxyalkanoates can be produced from wood and other lignocellulosic biomass. Biorefineries use a variety of separation methods often to produce high value co-products from the various feed streams. In this paper, a critical review of separation methods and technologies related to biorefining including pre-extraction of hemicellulose and other value-added chemicals, detoxification of fermentation hydrolyzates, and ethanol product separation and dehydration is presented. For future Biorefineries, extractive distillation with ionic liquids and hyperbranched polymers, adsorption with molecular sieve and bio-based adsorbents, nanofiltration, extractive-fermentation, membrane pervaporation in bioreactors, and vacuum membrane distillation (VMD) hold significant potential and great promise for further investigation, development and application.

Thomas J Farmer - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • the integration of green chemistry into future Biorefineries
    Biofuels Bioproducts and Biorefining, 2009
    Co-Authors: James H Clark, Fabien E I Deswarte, Thomas J Farmer
    Abstract:

    The use of Biorefineries for the production of chemicals as well as materials and energy products is key to ensuring a sustainable future for the chemical and allied industries. Through the integration of green chemistry into Biorefineries, and the use of low environmental impact technologies, we can establish future supply chains for genuinely green and sustainable chemical products. The first step in these future Biorefineries should be the benign extraction of surface chemicals; here the use of greener solvents, such as supercritical carbon dioxide and bioethanol, should be considered. The residues will often be rich in lignocellulosics and the effective separation of the cellulose is a major challenge which may, in the future, be assisted by greener solvents, such as ionic liquids. Lignin is nature's major source of aromatics; we need new ways to produce small aromatic building blocks from lignin in order to satisfy the enormous and diverse industrial demand for aromatics. Fermentation can be used to convert biomass into a wide range of bioplatform chemicals in addition to ethanol. Their green chemical conversion to higher value chemicals is as important as their efficient production; here clean technologies such as catalysis – notably biocatalysis and heterogeneous catalysis – the use of benign solvents, and energy efficient reactors are essential. Thermochemical processes for the conversion of biomass, such as the production of pyrolysis oil, will also play an important role in future Biorefineries and here again green chemistry methods should be used to go to higher value downstream chemicals. Published in 2008 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd