SOUTHEAST BIOENERGY PROJECT AT AUBURN UNIVERSITY

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: SPECIAL GRANT
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 0215566
• Grant No.: 2008-34625-19523
• Proposal No.: 2008-04550
• Project Start Date: Sep 1, 2008
• Project End Date: Aug 31, 2010
• Grant Year: 2008
• Program Code: [CC-O]- Southeast Bioenergy, AL

Recipient Organization
AUBURN UNIVERSITY
108 M. WHITE SMITH HALL
AUBURN,AL 36849

Performing Department
BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING

Non Technical Summary
The ability to separate biomass into its basic chemical constituents is an exciting development in the overall efforts to develop an integrated biorefinery that optimizes the production of liquid fuels and chemicals from biomass. To date, research on biochemical conversion and biomass gasification has been limited to techniques that largely utilize unprocessed forms of biomass. However, if biomass can be separated into basic chemical building blocks, it appears that targeted conversion processes can be developed and optimized for each of these particular building blocks utilizing both biochemical and thermochemical approaches, depending on the streams and desired products. Fractionation is a powerful technology platform that will allow the industry to convert a wide range of biomass feedstocks to a relatively uniform set of fundamental chemical forms that can be further processed into a wide range of specialty products. Research on biomass fractionation holds great promise for improving efficiencies of biochemical conversion processes and yielding product streams, such as lignin, that are most suited to gasification or production of higher value products.

Animal Health Component

15%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

75%

Applied

15%

Developmental

10%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
402	0650	2020	100%

Knowledge Area
402 - Engineering Systems and Equipment;

Subject Of Investigation
0650 - Wood and wood products;

Field Of Science
2020 - Engineering;

Keywords

biomass

fractionation

cellulose

hemicellulose

lignin

forest residues

southern pine

biorefining

bioenergy

Goals / Objectives
The proposed research focuses on the separation of biomass into its basic constituents. Auburn University will utilize a unique biomass fractionation technology to produce pure streams of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. The specific objectives of the project are to: 1. Commission a new fractionation laboratory at Auburn University; and 2. Conduct initial testing and validation of the fractionation process using underutilized woody biomass from southern pine plantations. The primary output from the project will be a functioning fractionation laboratory capable of separating biomass into its basic chemical constituents. Results from the research will include characterization and elemental analyses of southern pine logging residues, and small-diameter trees. Results also will include optimized methods for separation of this material into cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin.

Project Methods
The project will involve commissioning of the fractionation laboratory. This includes assembling feeding mechanisms, assembling the extrusion systems and chemical feed systems, and connection of all mechanical, electrical, and plumbing subsystems for the fractionation process development unit. The research subtasks will involve collection of samples of forest harvesting residues (limbs and tops, etc.) and small-diameter, unmerchantable trees. Laboratory analysis (ultimate and proximate analysis) and fractionation of both samples (chips from small diameter trees and from conventional tree logging operations) will then be carried out. First stage hemicellulose recovery will be investigated using both autohydrolysis and reagents. Once the first stage hemicellulose hydrolysis has been optimized, second stage studies for the separation of lignin will be conducted. Finally, the lignin-rich liquor stream will be processed to precipitate the lignin derivative into a solid.

Progress 09/01/08 to 08/31/10

Outputs
OUTPUTS: The biomass fractionation laboratory at Auburn University has been fully commissioned and, at the conclusion of the project, allows researchers to develop protocols for the separation of various types of lignocellulosic biomass into its constituents of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. The fractionation reactor is capable of operating in co-current as well as counter-current modes. Fractions of cellulose and lignin also have been successfully pelletized to create more dense forms of the products. Researchers have been able to successfully fractionate or pretreat biomass types that include: corn cobs, corn stover, switchgrass, and rice straw using NaOH or NH3 as the reagant. Limited research has begun to examine the fractionation of southern pine biomass; however additional research will be needed to develop successful fractionation protocols for pine. Additional research has focused on developing spectroscopy methods that can be used to evaluate the feedstock prior to fractionation. Also, researchers have examined the use of the fractionated compounds for use in bioproducts. The cellulose has been examined for its potential to reinforce phenol formaldehyde resins. PARTICIPANTS: S. Adhikari, Assistant Professor, Auburn University O. Fasina, Associate Professor, Auburn University Y. Lee, Professor, Auburn University S. Taylor, Professor, Auburn University M. Tu, Assistant Professor, Auburn University B. Via, Assistant Professor, Auburn University TARGET AUDIENCES: The biorefinery industry and biofuels research community are the primary audiences for the research. The research on fractionation of biomass has the potential to change the economic viability of many logistical operations in the biofuel industry by creating a set of intermediate commodity products that can be manufactured into a wide variety of value-added products. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

Impacts
The fractionation methods developed to date have shown that it is technically feasible to create chemical intermediates (cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin) from a wide variety of lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks using the counter-current and co-current fractionation techniques. Densification methods, such as pelletization, can create dense forms of the compounds that will allow for more efficient handling and transport of these products (cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin) for subsequent value-added manufacturing processes. Spectroscopy methods developed as part of the research will allow more efficient, and less costly process control of the industrial scale fractionation processes. The research results on using cellulose fractions to augment industrial adhesives show that the fractionated compounds have wide ranging opportunities for value-added products.

Publications

• Via, B.K., O.O. Fasina, and P. Hui. 2011. Assessment of biomass density through mid-infrared spectroscopy and multivariate modeling. Bioresources 6(1): 807-822.
• Atta-Obeng, E., Via, B.K., Auad, M.L., and Fasina, O. 2010. Thermal and mechanical properties of microcrystalline cellulose reinforced PF resin. Alabama Composites Conference, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Birmingham, Alabama.
• Obeng, E., B.K. Via, M.L. Auad, M. Tu, and O. Fasina. 2010. Thermal and mechanical properties of cellulose reinforced Phenol formaldehyde polymer matrix. Forest Products Society 64th International Convention, Madison, Wisconsin.
• Rajesh Gupta and Y. Y. Lee. 2010. Investigation of biomass degradation mechanism in pretreatment of switchgrass by aqueous ammonia and sodium hydroxide, Bioresource Technology, 101:8185 - 8191
• Rajesh Gupta and Y. Y. Lee. 2010. Pretreatment of corn stover and hybrid poplar by delignification using sodium hydroxide, Biotechnology Progress, Accepted for publication, Online version published.

Progress 09/01/08 to 08/31/09

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Laboratories for biomass processing, fractionation, and biochemical analysis have been completed at Auburn University. The biomass processing facility allows drying, size reduction, and pelletization of lignocellulosic biomass samples. The fractionation laboratory houses a process development unit for countercurrent solvent-based extraction of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin from biomass samples. The fractionation unit has a capacity of approximately 25 lbs/hour. Fractionation campaigns have been completed for corn stover, corn cobs, and rice straw. The analytical laboratory contains equipment for analysis of fractionated compounds and includes bioreactors, incubators, and HPLC's. PARTICIPANTS: Auburn University participants include: Steven Taylor, Oladiran Fasina, and Sushil Adhikari from the Department of Biosystems Engineering; Maobing Tu and Brian Via from the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences; Yoon Lee and David Mills from the Department of Chemical Engineering. Collaborating organizations include Purevision Technologies, Inc. of Fort Lupton, CO. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience for this research is the general biorefining industry with interest in converting lignocellulosic biomass into liquid fuels, fiber products, and other higher value chemicals. Specific audiences include groups interested in converting biomass through primarily biochemical conversion techniques. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: No major changes or modifications have occurred in the project.

Impacts
The project outcomes include developing a unique biomass processing and fractionation research platform that can serve the southeast U.S. The biomass fractionation platform made possible with these funds is allowing researchers to develop new techniques for separating biomass into its basic chemical constituents of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Through fractionation, the cellulose and hemicellulose can be more easily converted to ethanol through biochemical techniques. The resulting lignin can be used as a feedstock for higher valued chemical products or it can be converted to liquid fuels through thermochemical conversion techniques. Research to date has tested fractionation methods for biomass types of corn stover, corn cobs, and rice straw. The results of this research can provide pathways to create liquid transportation fuels and other higher valued chemical products that can reduce our dependence on foreign sources of oil while returning more value to farmers and forest landowners.

Publications

• No publications reported this period