Title:
The Development and Commercialisation of Nova Pangaea Technologies Refnova Process for the Continuous Sequential Physical then Thermochemical Fractionation of Lignocellulosic Biomass to Sugars and Chemical Precursors
Author(s):
Hedley, B., Holm, M.
Document(s):
Paper
Slide presentation
Abstract:
There is acute global interest in the development both of economically viable cellulosic biofuels, not using food feedstocks, and also for the establishment of new cellulosic value chains for chemicals and pharmaceuticals. The cell structure of trees, grasses, sugar cane, oil palm fibre, etc. is all made up of three main components: hemicellulose (C5 polymers); cellulose (C6 polymers) and lignin (phenolic polymers). The continuous Refnova process developed by Nova Pangaea Technologies (NPT) has the potential to fractionate essentially any biomass to valuable sugars and platform chemicals. 1. Sequential fractionation first removing solubles and volatiles; then hemicellulosic sugars (mainly monomer xylose); and finally separating the cellulosic sugars, (mainly levoglucosan, an anhydrous form of glucose) and lignin; 2. Entirely physical and thermochemical process steps (no costly enzymes or bacteria required, fast and efficient); 3. Continuous, not batch, giving scalability and low operating and capital costs. In this paper the authors describe the chemistry and advanced current state of development and scale demonstration of Nova Pangaea’s unique process, which is entering commercialisation collaborations with coporate partners. This includes a summary of the progress Nova Pangaea is making, working with several universities, research and development organisations and chemical and pharmaceutical companies, to develop viable non-food renewable value chains to fuels, polymers, chemicals and pharmaceuticals.
Keywords:
biorefining, lignocellulose, waste, second generation, thermochemical, industrial scale
Topic:
Industry Sessions
Subtopic:
Biochemical Conversion
Event:
26th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
IBO.12.3
Pages:
1521 - 1524
ISBN:
978-88-89407-18-9
Paper DOI:
10.5071/26thEUBCE2018-IBO.12.3
Price:
FREE
