Building the biobased economyBuilding the biobased economy
Biomass technology related R & Dat Ghent University
Dr ir Margriet DrouillonDr. ir. Margriet Drouillon
Core technologies or ‘platforms’ of the biobased economybiobased economy
1 S li i l tf1. Sugar lignin platform2. C-rich chains platform3 Biogas platform3. Biogas platform4. Syngas & bio-oil platform5. Plant production platformp p
Core research groups
− Lab of Industrial Microbiology and Biocatalysis (LIMAB)Prof Wim SoetaertProf. Wim Soetaert
− Lab of Microbial Ecology and Technology (LabMET)Prof. Willy VerstraeteProf. Willy Verstraete
− Research Group for Synthesis and Bioresources Chemistry (SynBIOC)Prof. Chris Stevens, Prof. Roland Verhé
− Plant Systems Biology (Prof. Wout Boerjan)D t t f Bi t E i i (P f W lt P i )− Department of Biosystems Engineering (Prof. Wolter Prins)
Core technologies or ‘platforms’g
1. Sugar lignin platform2 C i h h i l tf2. C-rich chains platform3. Biogas platform4 Syngas & bio-oil platform4. Syngas & bio oil platform5. Plant production platform
Sugar lignin: 1. Ethanol from sugar
− Extensive expertise on fermentation technology, Down-Stream ProcessingStream Processing
yeast fermentationbio-ethanolstarch
yeast fermentation
CO2
Sugar lignin: 1. Ethanol from sugar
− Current focus on valorisation of by-products
Metabolic engineering
bio-ethanolstarchyeast fermentation
Metabolic engineering
Metabolic modeling
AnalysisCO2
Fermentation technology
succinateglucoseChemicalsPolymers
Generic technology: metabolic engineering & metabolic modeling & analysis & fermentationmetabolic modeling & analysis & fermentation technology
Succinate: C4 building block for bioplastics and chemicals similar for fumarate & malatechemicals – similar for fumarate & malate
2. Improving energy content of bioethanol
− Ethanol drawbacks– Low energy densityLow energy density– High volatility– Water absorption from atmospherep p
− Synthesis of HMF and DMF from fructose or glucose– Higher energy density (+40%)– Lower volatility (boiling point +20°C)– Insoluble in water
Fructose
DMF
HMF
Next generation biofuels
− Non-food organic raw materialsAvailable in high volumes without negative competition for− Available in high volumes without negative competition for land
− In the long run: cost-competitive with gasoline and dieselg p g
Alternative raw materials
− Fast-growing trees: miscanthus, poplar, willowResidue from food crops: wheat straw corn stover− Residue from food crops: wheat straw, corn stover
− Leftovers from trees used for timber− Post-consumer waste: waste paper, waste wood, wastePost consumer waste: waste paper, waste wood, waste
food, sewage− Lipids: algae, jatropha Jatropha
1500 _ 2000 L/ha30 – 40 % oil/ kernel
Main biomass components
1. Cellulose: − Complex polymer of C6 (glucose)Complex polymer of C6 (glucose)− Resistant to hydrolysis into glucose monomers
2. Hemicellulose: Complex polysaccharide of C5 (xylose arabinose) & C6 sugars− Complex polysaccharide of C5 (xylose, arabinose) & C6 sugars (galactose, mannose)
− Easier to hydrolyse but more difficult to ferment3. Lignin:
− Complex polymer that maintains structural integrity of plants− Residual material after sugars have been converted into ethanol− Can be burnt to produce steam and electricity for biomass-to-
ethanol process
3. Second generation bio-ethanol: process
Biomass handling
Enzyme production Ethanol
Biomass pretreatment
Cellulose hydrolysis
Glucosefermentation
Ethanol recovery
Pentose Lignin fermentation
gutilization
UGent research: Improving economics and efficiencyand efficiency− Cellulose hydrolysis:
– Crystalline structure → hard to break downCrystalline structure → hard to break down– Performance and functioning of cellulases and
mannases of different origin
− Pentose fermentation:– Genetic engineering of micro-organisms toGenetic engineering of micro organisms to
improve fermentation of C5 and C6 sugars
Pl t d ti ffi i− Plant production efficiency: – Reducing lignin content of poplars
Core technologies or ‘platforms’g
1. Sugar lignin platform2 C i h h i l tf2. C-rich chains platform3. Biogas platform4 Syngas & bio-oil platform4. Syngas & bio oil platform5. Plant production platform
2. C-rich chains platform
− Based on plant & animal fats and oilsLong hydrocarbon chains− Long hydrocarbon chains
− Some oils may be used directly (SVO), or modified to better meet current needs (biodiesel)( )
2. C-rich chains platform: UGent expertise
− Extensive expertise on biodiesel production from Crude oil refined oil waste oils and fats– Crude oil, refined oil, waste oils and fats
– Crop-based: rapeseed, sunflower, palm oil, jatropha– Refining, degumming, desodorisation prior to lipidRefining, degumming, desodorisation prior to lipid
conversion to biodiesel− Pilot projects in Subsaharan Africa (Ivory Coast, Benin)
biodieselrapeseedoil
rapeseed
glycerol
oil
2. C-rich chains platform: UGent expertise
− Refining of glycerineRefining of algae derived oil− Refining of algae derived oil
2. C-rich chains platform: UGent expertise
− Current focus on building blocks derived from byproducts of biodiesel productionbiodiesel production
biodieselrapeseedoil
rapeseed
glycerol
S ( ) 1 3 di lfermentation
Sorona™ (DuPont)synthetic fibre
1,3-propanediol
Added value by products of glycerol
2. C-rich chains platform: UGent expertise
− Chemical modification of biobased building blocks:Development of new castor oil based monomersDevelopment of new, castor-oil based monomers
− REACH: classification of new biobasedREACH: classification of new biobased building blocks
− Biosurfactant production by fermentation:Development of sophorolipids with shorter C chain than C16 C18 chainshorter C chain than C16, C18 chain
2. C-rich chains platform: UGent expertise
− Microcalorimetry based directed evolution platform for development of a generic glycosylation technologydevelopment of a generic glycosylation technology (Glycodirect)
Glycosylation of small molecules
Glycosylation of small molecules
Core technologies or ‘platforms’g
1. Sugar lignin platform2 C i h h i l tf2. C-rich chains platform3. Biogas platform4 Syngas & bio-oil platform4. Syngas & bio oil platform5. Plant production platform
3. Biogas platform
Input materials: manure, energy crops, food waste municipal wastefood waste, municipal waste,…
Anaerobic fermentation
37° or 55°C
BiogasBiogas DigestateBiogas
Power & heat generation
Biogas Digestate
Power & heat generation SoilPower & heat generation, (partial) upgradingPower & heat generation(partial) upgrading
Soil
3. Biogas platform
− Dry Anaerobic Composting (DRANCO) technology was developed at UGent (Organic Waste Systems)developed at UGent (Organic Waste Systems)
− Extensive know-how on process design and coupling with digestate treatment, waste water technology and microbial fuel cell technology
− Service to industry for semicontinuous and batch experimentsexperiments
Microbial fuel cell technology− Anode: bacterial oxidation
of glucose, acetate, waste water to COwater to CO2Electrons are transferred to the cathode
− Current is generated over a resistor/electrical circuitH+ transfers over a proton− H+ transfers over a proton exchange membrane
− Cathode: reduction of O2 to 2H2O
− Tested at pilot scale
Core technologies or ‘platforms’g
1. Sugar lignin platform2 C rich chains platform2. C-rich chains platform3. Biogas platform4. Plant products platform4. Plant products platform
VIB, Prof. Wout BoerjanILVO, Hilde MuylleS & f5. Syngas & Bio-oil platformDr. W. Prins, April 2008
Biomass technologyBuilding the biobased economy
Research & Development at Ghent University
D i M i t D illDr. ir. Margriet Drouillon
margriet drouillon@ugent [email protected]
Second generation bio-ethanol: state of the art
− Feed stock: selection, gathering, deliveryPretreatment: efficiency down stream impact− Pretreatment: efficiency, down stream impact
− Enzymes: costs, yields, volumes− Fermentation organisms: stability, adaptability, safetyFermentation organisms: stability, adaptability, safety
Barriers to commercialization
− Feed stocks:– Crop residues & dedicated energy cropsCrop residues & dedicated energy crops
• Change farming culture• Efficient harvest storage and delivery techniques
– Municipal solid wastes• Collecting and sorting efficiency
− Pretreatment− Pretreatment– High capital costs– Production of fermentation inhibitors
Barriers to commercialization (2)
− Enzymes & organismsEnzyme costs: past 5 years: 30 fold reduction but still– Enzyme costs: past 5 years: 30-fold reduction, but still 10-fold too high
– GMO’s: increase robustness− Plant construction (US)
– Capital cost 2 to 3 times higher than first generation (US)– Permitting takes 2 to 3 times longer (US)