Process for reduction of energy consumption during the pretreatment of biomass
The present invention relates to a process for reduction of energy consumption during the pretreatment of biomass.
1. Process for reduction of energy consumption during steam pretreatment of a lignocellulosic biomass, the process comprising
(a) determining for the lignocellulosic biomass feedstuff a pretreatment resistance parameter PRP, which is defined as
P
R
P
=
lignin
(
wt
.
-
%
)
(
xylose
(
wt
.
-
%
)
×
moistur
e
(
wt
.
-
%
)
×
m
.
(
kg
h
)
)
×
1000
,
wherein lignin, xylose, moisture, and {dot over (m)} (as dry matter) refer to features of the lignocellulosic biomass;
(b) determining a range of reactor steam outlet cross-sectional area using a feedstock processing parameter, which is defined as
FPP
=
1
(
P
R
P
(
h
kg
%
)
×
outletarea
(
mm
2
)
)
×
100
,
wherein FPP is within the range of from 2.0 to 4.5
kg
+
%
h
⋆
mm
2
;
(c) adjusting the reactor steam outlet cross-sectional area of a reactor to a value within the range determined in (b); and
(d) carrying out steam pretreatment of the lignocellulosic biomass, wherein steam consumption is reduced compared to using a reactor outlet cross-sectional area outside of said range.
2. Process according to claim 1 , wherein the pretreatment resistance parameter PRP of the lignocellulosic biomass is within the range of from 0.002 to 1.000
h
kg
*
%
.
3. Process according to claim 2 , wherein the pretreatment resistance parameter PRP of the lignocellulosic biomass is within the range of from 0.003 to 0.80
h
kg
*
%
.
4. Process according to claim 1 , wherein the lignocellulosic biomass has a lignin wt % to glucose wt % ratio of from 0.35 to 0.60.
5. Process according to claim 1 , wherein the moisture content of the lignocellulosic biomass is within the range of from 5 to 60 wt %.
6. Process according to claim 1 , wherein the xylose content of the lignocellulosic biomass is within the range of from 10.0 to 30.0 wt %.
7. Process according to claim 1 , wherein said pretreatment of the lignocellulosic biomass comprises applying a steam pressure selected within the range of from 8.0 to 15.0 bar.
8. Process according to claim 1 , wherein the lignocellulosic biomass pretreatment is carried out for a time selected within the range of from 1 minute to 20 minutes.