Thrust 1: Selective Thermal

Processing of Cellulosic Biomass and

Lignin (Wrap Up)

Brent H. Shanks Stefan Czernik

Chemical and Biological Engineering National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Iowa State University Department of Energy
 Overarching Needs

• Deconstruction kinetic models

• Catalytic pathways
• Thermodynamic properties
• Physical properties
• Analytical chemistry
 Plant Characteristics

• Less oxygen and water

• Less alkali (lower mineral content)
• High oil/wax plants
• Higher biomass yield
• Lignin (up) and hemicellulose (down)
 Feedstock Preprocessing

• Torrefaction
• Alkali-removal
• Catalyst added
• Pre-separation
• Modified biomass particle size/shape
• Improved accessibility
 Deconstruction Selectivity
• Catalyst incorporation
• Process condition optimization (modeling)
• Catalyst recovery
• Hydrolysis vs. cracking
• Depolymerization mechanisms
• Aerosol formation (pyrolysis)
• Co-reactant
• Staged fast pyrolysis
 Bio-Oil Recovery (Pyrolysis)

• Catalytic filtering
• Improved separation of lignin and
carbohydrate derived fractions
• Bio-oil stabilization
• Organic acid extraction
 Alternative Deconstruction
Approaches

• Alternative solvent systems

• Ionic liquids
• Modified temperature/time trajectories
• Selective release of anhydrosugars