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Title:
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An evaluation of three routes for the production of liquid fuels from biomass
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Author(s):
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Published by:
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Publication date:
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ECN
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1-4-1997
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ECN report number:
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Document type:
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ECN-R--97-001
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Other
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Number of pages:
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Full text:
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38
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Download PDF
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Abstract:
As part of an ECN Policy Studies project to assess the availability andprocurement of biomass in the Netherlands, the perspectives of three
different options for the production of liquid transportation fuels from
biomass have been evaluated. The options considered are: ethanol from
biomass, methanol from biomass, and bio-diesel from micro-algae. The first
two options, ethanol and methanol, are mutual competitors, a comparison of
both options is therefore included. Ethanol production from sugar and starch
containing crops is a well developed technique. Conversion of the
(hemi)cellulose fraction of biomass requires further development. Commercial
introduction of these techniques is expected within the next 5-10 years. The
individual process steps for methanol production from biomass are
well-developed, with the least developed step being gasification and gas
cleanup. Integral demonstration of the complete process has not been
performed up till now. A comparison of ethanol and methanol production from
biomass shows that production prices for both alcohols are about the same.
Comparison of the amount of energy produced per acre of land shows the
important role of the co-products of ethanol production. When co-products are
not considered, ethanol yield is at the lower limit of possible methanol
yields, whereas the ethanol yield is at the upper limit of possible methanol
yields when co-products of ethanol production are included. Furthermore,
introduction of ethanol production from (hemi)cellose results in an increase
in the ratio main product/byproducts. Currently the cultivation of
micro-algae is practised on a small scale to produce high-prices specialty
chemicals. A major advantage of micro-algae production is the high yield per
unit of land. For large-scale production of bio-diesel further development of
micro-algae cultivation techniques is required. 6 figs., 9 tabs., 14 refs.
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