Biofuels through Electrochemical transformation of intermediate BIO-liquids

Informations projet

EBIO

N° de convention de subvention: 101006612

DOI

10.3030/101006612

Projet clôturé

Date de signature de la CE 16 Novembre 2020

Date de début 1 Decembre 2020

Date de fin 30 Novembre 2024

Financé au titre de

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Secure, clean and efficient energy

Coût total

€ 3 988 603,75

Contribution de l’UE

€ 3 988 603,75

Coordonné par

SINTEF AS
Norway

Periodic Reporting for period 3 - EBIO (Biofuels through Electrochemical transformation of intermediate BIO-liquids)

Période du rapport: 2023-06-01 au 2024-11-30

Résumé du contexte et des objectifs généraux du projet

EBIO aims to develop sustainable routes to upgrade industrial bio liquids in order to simplify storage, transport and further processing to fuels and platform chemicals. Specifically EBIO targets the convorsion of instable compounds into stable intermediates, the removal of acids and the depolymerisation of high molecular weight fractions.
EBIO’s innovative concept focuses on electrochemical upgrading of two typical industrially available biomass-based liquefied feedstocks, i.e. black liquor and fast pyrolysis oil, through successive hydrogenation and decarboxylation. Process design and optimisation includes electrode materials, reaction cells, separation / purification, upscaling and integration into existing pulp mills and pyrolysis processes. Products aimed at specifically will have a higher energy density and stability, a lower averaged molecular weights, and less diverse oxygen functionalities in the molecules, as compared to the original feeds. This allows better blending / mixing with existing refinery streams and results in higher overall yields (in terms of carbon in the product, such as chemicals and biofuels).

EBIO’s key expected achievements are:
- Near-seamless integration of electrochemistry into biorefinery processes by combination of all the data using data treatment tools for flow sheeting, design, and impact analyses (yields and reaction rate/kinetics, energy balance, process efficiency, empirical links between the investigated process parameters/descriptors);
- Full process design, including integration of the prototype unit (for example hydrogen excess for final upgrading), integration over the value chains (for example oxidation – reduction vs reduction-oxidation), and integration with existing utilities (for example hydrogen for refinery; oxygen for pyrolysis; recycling option pyrolysis unit; chemicals recovery in pulp mill, energy integration);
- Detailed techno-economic evaluation to provide a realistic estimation of the manufacturing cost (substrates availability and supply chain, future end-users and economic sustainability of the process);
- Assessment of societal and environmental challenges and impacts, including barriers for social acceptance, impact of induced transport, as well as potential benefits (innovation potential, value added, employment) for regional economies, etc.

The objectives are:
Objective 1: Develop sustainable process designs for integration into pulp and pyrolysis plants
Objective 2: Establish an optimised electrochemical system for pyrolysis and lignin value chains
Objective 3: Develop optimised electrocatalysis & electrode design for pyrolysis oil & lignin value chains
Objective 4: Validate the technology for production of energy dense carriers at lab-scale (TRL4)

Travail effectué depuis le début du projet jusqu’à la fin de la période considérée dans le rapport et principaux résultats atteints jusqu’à présent

During RP2 have the EBIO efforts so far concentrated on 1) optimisation of the lab scale process conditions, 2) Establishment of detailed analysis protocols for full process monitoring, and 3) preparative work for sustainability assessment studies.
Process design studies in work package 1 have focussed on identifying representative compounds for the bio liquid component groups, further detailing process flow sheets and templates for mass and energy balances.
The experimental focus of WPs 2 and 3 has shifted from batch cell experiments to systems of flow through cells at lab and pilot scale.

The results so far are:
Electrochemical treatment of weak black liquor is technically feasible.Electrochemical pyrolysis liquid conversion requires an initial fractionation process separating oil and aqueous phase. Hydrogenation of saccharides and depolymerization of heavier lignin fractions requires the usage of recycled side streams (methanol and acids) to improve the electrolyte properties.
Preliminary results of societal impacts consist of pre-selection of a set of impact categories, criteria and indicators for the analysis. This has been developed by internal workshops and in dialogue with project partners (WP1 and BTG), and will be used as basis for further dialogue with the other project partners and external stakeholders, to come up with a final set of factors.
The experimental studies of work package 2 focussed on identification of suitable electrode materials as well as the establishment of the operational window. This lays the ground works for paired electrochemical tests combining anodic oxidation and cathodic reduction processes.
Separation of oxidised intermediates of higher value will experimentally focus on extraction, in theoretical design studies membrane processes and precipitation will be also be considered. For fuels production most feasible seems the consecutive electrochemical depolymerisation and reduction and catalytic hydrogenation.
Industrial black liquor reduction has been achieved, bio oil reduction requires the use of electrolytes to achieve sufficient electrolyte conductivity.
Lab scale cell prototypes have been constructed and first pilot campaigns are under way within work package 3.

Progrès au-delà de l’état des connaissances et impact potentiel prévu (y compris l’impact socio-économique et les conséquences sociétales plus larges du projet jusqu’à présent)

The concepts proven in EBIO contribute to accelerating and reducing the cost of the next generation of sustainable renewable energy generation. EBIO will develop a novel generation of electrochemical conversion technology targeting more costs effective approaches. The focus on non-noble metals for electrocatalysis will reduce the process costs, modification of bio liquid production processes are to be minimised.
EBIO will reduce the cost by using residual stream in existing refineries (lignin / black liquor), allowing to valorise them in products that have a significantly higher value than just combustion value.
EBIO will increase understanding of technological, economic and environmental parameters for the conversion of different types of low value crude oils into energy dense hydrocarbon.
EBIO contributes towards establishing a solid European innovation base and building a sustainable renewable energy system.
EBIO enhances EU leadership in the renewables, improves European competitiveness. Firstly, EBIO improves the European competitiveness by decreasing OPEX and CAPEX. The developed electrocatalytic systems and process configurations can be used to produce at least 61 Mt biofuels per year. The availability of bio-based platform compounds and chemicals allowed by EBIO offers the prospective production of other chemicals with high market potential, an opportunity that will be continuously analysed in the project. Eventually, EBIO will contribute to new business and competences in the area of electrochemical reactor development as it will lead to new processes reinforcing specific fields of expertise such as electrode, membrane, reactor and process design.
EBIO contributes to the achievement of United Nations Sustainable Development goals
The EBIO project is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development goals (SDGs) 7 and 12.
EBIO generates growth and creates jobs in EU. The EBIO project will utilise and contribute to the Key Enabling Technologies of advanced materials and sustainable development though the development of new electrocatalysts and electrocatalytic systems.In urban areas jobs are created in e.g. the European materials/electrochemistry and (petro) chemical fuels industry. The deployment of the EBIO process will generate both temporary jobs (e.g. plant adaptation) and permanent jobs (e.g. plant operation, biomass collection and logistics), again specifically in rural area.

Achievements of EBIO contributing to building a sustainable energy system.