Solvent-free lignin recovered by thermal-enzymatic treatment using fixed-bed reactor technology - Economic assessment

Journal
Bioresource technology  
Volume
268
Start Page
382
End Page
392
Citation
Bioresource technology (268): 382-392 (2018-11)
Publisher DOI
10.1016/j.biortech.2018.07.107
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85051115142
The economic viability of producing lignin by thermal-enzymatic treatment in a high-pressure fixed-bed reactor is investigated for the first time. In this direction, different advantages (e.g. recovery of low-odor sulfur-free lignin, high process flexibility) and disadvantages (e.g. high investment for high-pressure equipment) of this technology are considered. Regarding process flexibility, four different operating modes (i.e. flow through, circulation) are investigated by varying process parameters and applications of the C5 sugar fraction. Therefore, a combined modelling approach is applied by using overall biorefinery models and a predictive fixed-bed model. At optimum process conditions, lignin can be produced at a competitive price (395 €/tLignin) when comparing to other technical lignins. This result is achieved by using the fixed-bed reactor only for thermal treatment, with the water consumption being the most important factor affecting the cost of lignin production. Compared to that the C5 sugar recovery of the pretreatment is negligible.
Subjects
Fixed-bed reactor
Lignin
Modelling
Thermal-enzymatic treatment
Carbohydrates
Enzymes
Hydrolysis
Solvents
Bioreactors
Lignin
More Funding Information
Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung 031B0091B, 031A233D