Grant: Strategic Projects - Group
University of Western Ontario
$76,000.00
Developing the best technology for the conversion of agricultural waste into biofuels and chemicals
FY 2008-09
Summary
The objective of this proposal is to develop a new, practical technology for the conversion of agricultural waste
into fuels and valuable products. Pyrolysis is an ideal process for the conversion of biomass into high
value-added products. It produces bio-oil that can be shipped to a biorefinery for refining into green chemicals
and biofuels. The most promising technologies for biomass pyrolysis on a commercial scale are the fluidized
bed pyrolyzers, which include downers and risers for short residence times, and bubbling/turbulent fluidized
beds for longer residence times.
The proposed research will use riser, downer and regular fluidized pilot plants to pyrolyze several feedstocks of
special interest to Canada. Its results will help identify the most promising pyrolysis technology and conditions
for each of the following feedstocks:
1) Tobacco waste can be converted into a liquid from which an effective, green insecticide can be extracted.
The rest of the liquid can be used as biofuel.
2) Flax cultivation is expanding rapidly since its seeds contain omega-3 oil, a neutraceutical. Its straw is a
waste material that cannot be plowed under and is highly polluting when burnt.
3) Current, first generation processes for the conversion of corn into bio-ethanol are not very energy efficient
because they produce large amounts of waste either in the field (corn stover) or in the plant (distillers grains).
Distillers grains will be pyrolyzed to a liquid for further refining.
4) Cellulosic ethanol, obtained by enzymatic conversion currently produces large amounts of waste material.
In contrast, pyrolysis converts the whole plant to a bio-oil, which can be refined into chemicals and biofuels.
The proposed project will study the conversion of corn stover into bio-oil.
If successful, this project will provide the foundations for the creation of a new, Canadian, bioprocessing
industry for the production of energy and green chemicals from waste biomass.
Program
Strategic Projects - Group
Recipient
Location
Ontario, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
350768-2007
Name nom
Briens, Cedric
Department département
Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
Organization id
36
Institution établissement
University of Western Ontario
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2008
Competition year année de concours
2007
Award amount
76000
Program id
STPGP
Program nane en
Strategic Projects - Group
Program name fr
Projets stratégiques - De groupe
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
1047
Committee name en
Strategic Projects Selection Panel - Energy
Committee name fr
Comité de sélection des projets stratégiques - Énergie
Area of application code
300
Area of application group en
Energy resources
Area of application group fr
Ressources d'énergie
Area of application en
Energy resources (including production, exploration, processing, distribution and use)
Area of application fr
Ressources d'énergie (production, exploration, traitement, distribution et utilisation de l'énergie)
Research subject code
1800
Research subject group en
Chemical engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie chimique
Research subject en
Chemical engineering
Research subject fr
Génie chimique
Partie
2
Nb partie
3
Application title
Developing the best technology for the conversion of agricultural waste into biofuels and chemicals
Keyword
NA
Application summary
The objective of this proposal is to develop a new, practical technology for the conversion of agricultural waste
into fuels and valuable products. Pyrolysis is an ideal process for the conversion of biomass into high
value-added products. It produces bio-oil that can be shipped to a biorefinery for refining into green chemicals
and biofuels. The most promising technologies for biomass pyrolysis on a commercial scale are the fluidized
bed pyrolyzers, which include downers and risers for short residence times, and bubbling/turbulent fluidized
beds for longer residence times.
The proposed research will use riser, downer and regular fluidized pilot plants to pyrolyze several feedstocks of
special interest to Canada. Its results will help identify the most promising pyrolysis technology and conditions
for each of the following feedstocks:
1) Tobacco waste can be converted into a liquid from which an effective, green insecticide can be extracted.
The rest of the liquid can be used as biofuel.
2) Flax cultivation is expanding rapidly since its seeds contain omega-3 oil, a neutraceutical. Its straw is a
waste material that cannot be plowed under and is highly polluting when burnt.
3) Current, first generation processes for the conversion of corn into bio-ethanol are not very energy efficient
because they produce large amounts of waste either in the field (corn stover) or in the plant (distillers grains).
Distillers grains will be pyrolyzed to a liquid for further refining.
4) Cellulosic ethanol, obtained by enzymatic conversion currently produces large amounts of waste material.
In contrast, pyrolysis converts the whole plant to a bio-oil, which can be refined into chemicals and biofuels.
The proposed project will study the conversion of corn stover into bio-oil.
If successful, this project will provide the foundations for the creation of a new, Canadian, bioprocessing
industry for the production of energy and green chemicals from waste biomass.
