Fast Pyrolysis of Wheat Straw—Improvements of Operational Stability in 10 Years of Bioliq Pilot Plant Operation

Abstract

The bioliq process developed at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) aims at the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into synthetic biofuels and chemicals. The process follows a two-stage concept combining decentralized pretreatment of biomass via fast pyrolysis and centralized large-scale gasification and synthesis. The process was specifically designed to convert ash-rich biomass residues, such as wheat straw, requiring special design features at least in the upstream processes. The 2 MW fast pyrolysis pilot plant at KIT was operated with wheat straw from 2009 to 2018 and since then with miscanthus. A substantial increase from less than 5 tons of wheat straw converted per test run in 2012 to more than 50 tons in 2018 was achieved. In total, up to 2018, more than 260 tons of wheat straw were converted to pyrolysis products within a total of 500 h of steady operation. Representative results of the product yields and properties were presented for test campaigns from 2015 to 2018 and compared to a process demonstration unit of the same design but with a downscale factor of 50 (10 kg/h). Mass yields from both plants are in good agreement and consistent with literature data. Experience from longer-term operation and major technical modifications made to improve the operational stability of the plant are described.

Metabolic engineering of Corynebacterium glutamicum for acetate-based itaconic acid production

“…The aqueous side-stream (named pyrolysis water, PW) generated by fast pyrolysis of straw, in the bioliq® process, has a water content of around 80% (w/w) and besides several other compounds, it contains about 40 g acetate L −1 [ 46 ]. However, crude PW was found to inhibit growth of C. glutamicum ITA13 at concentrations below 2% (v/v) in CGXII medium.…”

Virtual Special Issue of Recent Advances in Biomass and Wastes Thermochemical Processing

“…There are four papers on these topics. Niebel et al 4 summarized in their paper more than 10 years of work of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) on the fast pyrolysis of wheat straw. This work studied a decentralized pretreatment via fast pyrolysis, followed by a centralized gasification step.…”

Comparative Characteristics of Products of Fast and Slow Pyrolysis of Flax Shive

“…В северо-западном регионе РФ имеются большие постоянно пополняемые запасы льняной костры, которая сегодня в силу различных причин практически не перерабатывается. Отходы растительной биомассы могут быть 128 преобразованы в ценные продукты и биотоплива с помощью различных термических, физико-химических и биологических процессов [4][5]. Для производства этих продуктов возможно использование сырья растительного происхождения как одного из альтернативных путей получения различных углеводородов [6][7][8].…”