What does a biomass pretreatment expert or consultant do? First, we must understand the process. Collected biomass requires some type of pretreatment prior to its conversion to fuels or renewable chemicals. Pretreatment will involve the biomass’ handling and transport, and the actual physical processes like sizing, drying, or chemical processes such as acid washing. These pretreatment process can be complex and costly, but they are critical to overall process performance and economics of the final product. Why? Because problems with pretreatment are likely to be the major cause of resulting commercial difficulties.
A biomass pretreatment expert must have the education necessary to understand the processes completely, and the commercial experience attendant to the particular process being used. They should also be familiar with the various alternative pretreatments available and their costs and benefits. Vitally important, they should also understand how to integrate the pretreatment process into a variety of different downstream processes.
Large renewable energy and biochemical consulting firms certainly have experts in biotechnologies, as well as the more common areas like bio and renewable fuels, biomass and biomass power, feedstocks, biomaterials, and biochemicals. These larger groups will also have expertise in other technologies like agitation systems, anaerobic digestion, beverage fermentation, bio-oil extraction, bioreactors, carbon capture, carbon storage, carbonization, catalysis, cellulosic ethanol, cleantech, combined heat and power, direct combustion, enzyme technologies, fermentation, Fischer-Tropsch, gasification, genetic engineering, hydrothermal, nanotechnology, organosynthesis, power generation, pyrolysis, renewable technology due diligence, synthetic biology, thermochemical conversion, torrefaction, water treatment, and waste management.
Lee Enterprises Consulting is the world’s premier bioeconomy consulting group, with over 100 highly qualified experts serving in all these areas. Take a look at our experts, and the services we provide. Most of our experts are also available to advise and serve as expert witnesses in bioeconomy litigation matters. For the larger projects, we specialize in putting together full service, interdisciplinary teams with one point of contact. Call us at 1+ (501) 833-8511 or email us for more information.
