Cellulosic sugars are derived from non-food biomass (eg wood, agricultural residues, municipal solid waste). [1] The biomass is primarily composed of carbohydrate polymers cellulose , hemicellulose , and an aromatic polymer (lignin). The hemicellulose is a polymer of mainly five-carbon sugars C 5 H 10 O 5 ( xylose ). [2] and the cellulose is a polymer of six-carbon sugar C 6 H 12 O 6 ( glucose ). [3]Cellulose fibers are considered to be structurally and structurally bound to lignin, but the biomass can be deconstructed using acid hydrolysis , enzymatic hydrolysis , dissolution organosolv, autohydrolysis or supercritical hydrolysis .
Biomass (cellulose, hemicellulose and lignocellulose) contains vast amounts of fermentable sugars. These sugars can be produced from a wide variety of feedstocks and can be converted into a multitude of biochemical , biofuel , and polymer products by either biological or biological routes. [4]
Industrial use
In January 2012, BASF invested in Pennsylvania-based Renmatix to produce low-cost, large volume quantities of industrial sugar lignocellulosic biomass (wood, cane bagasse or straw). Renmatix is currently the only commercial player utilizing supercritical hydrolysis as a route to cellulosic sugar production. [5]
Renmatix is working with multiple partners on the development of commercial scale facilities with 100,000 tons of cellulosic sugars annually. [6] The company has a world-class technical center in Pennsylvania and production operations at the Integrated Plantrose Complex (IPC) in Kennesaw, Georgia and the Feedstock Processing Facility (FPF) in Rome, New York. [7]
In June 2013, Renmatix also entered a joint development agreement (JDA) with UPM , a Finnish pulp, paper and timber manufacturer, to convert woody biomass into low-cost sugar intermediates for subsequent downstream processing into biochemicals. [8]
In December 2013, Renmatix and Virent announced a strategic collaboration to convert affordable cellulosic sugars to renewable chemicals and bio-based packaging materials. [9]
In March 2015, French Energy Group, Total SA entered a joint development agreement (JDA) with Renmatix to use the Plantrose technology to extract second-generation sugars from biomass and sustainable development and profitable biomolecules for products of interest. [10]
Biotechnology Penetration in the Chemical Industry
| year | Value | Penetration |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 (actual) | $ 67 billion | 5.3% |
| 2005 (actual) | $ 98 billion | 6.7% |
| 2010 (forecast) | $ 159 billion | 9.6% |
| 2025 (projection) | $ 1000 billion | 33% |
[11]
World Biobased Market Penetration 2010-2025
| Chemical Sector | 2010 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|
| Commodity Chemicals | 1-2% | 6-10% |
| Specialty Chemicals | 20-25% | 45-50% |
| Fine Chemicals | 20-25% | 45-50% |
| Polymers | 5-10% | 10-20% |
[12]
In the first quarter of 2013, American Process Inc. announced the start-up of cellulosic sugar production using their patented AVAP® technology at their demonstration plant in Thomaston, GA. [13] The AVAP process uses ethanol and sulfur dioxide (SO2) to fractionate biomass into its pure components: cellulose, hemicellulose sugars and lignin. [14] [15] In early 2013 GranBio, a Brazilian pioneer in biofuels and biochemicals, completed the acquisition of an equity investment in API. [16] Since that time, API has been fermented both five-carbon and six-carbon sugars into high-value bio-chemicals and biofuels in partnership with fermentation companies throughout the world.
Applications
Cellulosic sugars are used as renewable resources for biochemical and biofuels industries and can be used to produce intermediates by fermentative processes. The availability of industrial sugars from renewable resources, and the cost-competitiveness of fossil fuel based products. [17]
A 2012 study by Nexant estimates that in the future, it will be possible and potentially economically viable to produce any type of sugar-based chemical product from biomass due to developments in cellulosic processing. [18]
References
- Jump up^ “Cellulosic Sugars: Biomass Unlocking Potential”, Nexant, (2012), p.1-2
- Jump up^ Xylose, Material Measurement Technology, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), (2011)
- Jump up^ Glucose, Material Measurement Technology, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), (2011)
- Jump up^ Renmatix Facilities, Retrieved 23 June 2015]
- Jump up^ “Cellulosic Biofuels Industry Progress Report”, Advanced Ethanol Council, (2012-2013)
- Jump up^ “BASF invests in Renmatix”, ICIS Green Chemicals, (2012)]
- Jump up^ “ICIS Winners Innovation Award, Renmatix and Virent, Announce Collaboration on Bio-based Packaging”, Retrieved 23 June 2015
- Jump up^ “US Biobased Products, Market Potential and Projections Through 2025”, United States Department of Agriculture, P.15, (2008)
- Jump up^ “McKinsey & Company Releases New Data About Growth in Industrial Biotech Sector at World Congress” Retrieved 23 June 2015
- Jump up^ Third Annual World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing, Toronto, ON, July 11-14, 2006 Retrieved 23 June 2015
- Jump up^ “McKinsey & Company Releases New Data About Growth in Industrial Biotech Sector at World Congress” Retrieved 30 July 2015
- Jump up^ “US Biobased Products, Market Potential and Projections Through 2025”, United States Department of Agriculture, P.15, (2008)
- Jump up^ http://www.biofuelsdigest.com/bdigest/2014/02/26/american-process-biofuels-digests-2014-5-minute-guide/
- Jump up^ Iakovlev M. SO2-Ethanol-Water Fractionation of Lignocellulosics. Doctoral Thesis, Aalto University, Finland, 2011.http://lib.tkk.fi/Diss/2011/isbn9789526043142/isbn9789526043142.pdf
- Jump up^ Retsina T., Pylkkanen V. US 8030039 B1, Method for the production of fermentable sugars and cellulose from lignocellulosic material
- Jump up^ http://www.avapco.com/NewsDocs/GranBio-API-press-release-04162013-en.pdf
- Jump up^ Renmatix Facilities, Retrieved 23 June 2015]
- Jump up^ “Cellulosic Biofuels Industry Progress Report”, Advanced Ethanol Council, (2012-2013)