Lignocellulosic sugar production in biorefineries attached to kraft mills eucalyptus pulp: technical and economic analysis and methodology for selection of markets

Author(s)

Larissa Braga Dornelles

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Campinas, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Faculdade de Engenharia Química
• Defense date: 2018-11-12

Examining board members

Adriano Pinto Mariano; Rubens Maciel Filho; Alexandre Rodrigues Torres

• Advisor: Adriano Pinto Mariano

Abstract

Following the global trend of transformation of the forest sector, pulp producers in Brazil are interested in expanding their business to the bio-economy. Entry points are varied and among several processes and product options that can be integrated into kraft pulp mills, those based on the sugar¿s platform are promising. In this platform, physicochemical and enzymatic treatments convert biomass to sugars and lignin. The sugars are used to produce chemicals and fuels and the lignin can be used for energy purposes or converted into products. As such, the main question addressed in this research is whether biorefineries annexed to pulp mills can offer affordable lignocellulosic sugars for fuels and chemical production while keeping the investment attractive. Scenarios were elaborated using different biomass sources besides conventional eucalyptus, such as short rotation eucalyptus (energy forestry) and energy cane, using different technologies of pre-treatment (steam explosion and organosolv). Based on the generated technic-economic analysis, the best result achieved was using organosolv as pre-treatment with eucalyptus and selling the lignin ¿ because it is a sub product with potential added value (minimum selling price of sugars or MSP of 75 USD/t). Without considering selling lignin, the MSP of eucalyptus and organosolv is 326 USD/t and the best result was using steam explosion as pretreatment with energy cane (MSP: 192 USD/t), because of its cheaper technology and raw material. The MSP of the scenarios ranged from 75 to 326 USD/t while the average price for crystal sugar in Brazil is 216 USD/t. The product stream concentration is 90-180 g/L. Lastly, we elaborate a methodology to select promising markets for sugar as raw material. Financial, technologic and market aspects were taken into consideration. The selection of product included succinic acid, levulinic acid, lactic acid, and n-butanol to validate the tool. Lactic acid and n-butanol were the most suited to implement a biorefinery, according to the parameters and its weights given. Despite this, the methodology showed that all the analyzed products have great potential and possibility of growth using production routes based on sugars (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/19614-7 - Lignocellulosic sugar production in biorefineries attached to Kraft mills eucalyptus pulp: technical and economic analysis and methodology for selection of markets
• Grantee: Larissa Braga Dornelles
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master