What feedstocks are used for lignocellulosic biofuel production? Many different feedstocks can be used for biofuel production. If the process route consists of gasification/pyrolysis followed by a Fisher-Tropsch process, most feedstocks behave similarly. However, if the enzymatic route followed by fermentation is used, each feedstock behaves differently. Most require pre-treatment prior to hydrolysis. Pre-treatment methods include mechanical grinding, steam explosion, strong or weak acids, and strong or weak bases. Such methods have been applied to such diverse feedstocks as corn stover, switchgrass, various types of cane, ground wood, beet pulp, corn fiber, and several others. A special case is for paper stock waste and municipal solid waste. These are not usually pretreated, resulting in longer hydrolysis times.
The type of feedstock, method of pretreatment, feeding strategy, and % solids determine the agitation requirements in the hydrolysis reactor and subsequent processing steps. Because each client process usually has some unique features, there is no one-size-fits-all agitator design for such applications. Generally, wet testing plus scale-up is required to assure a successful installation. Lee Enterprise Consulting has experts that have significant experience in this area.
With over 150 experts worldwide, Lee Enterprises Consulting has experts in many specific clean and renewable areas, including anaerobic digestion, fermentation, biomass, conversion technologies for things like tires and railroad ties, organic synthesis, fuel additives, ethanol gas, biodiesel fuel including algae biofuels, solid state and industrial fermentation, green energy grants, ag biotech, agricultural waste, alcohol fuels, alternative proteins and animal-free products, sustainable foods, beverage fermentation, biocatalysis, biodiesel conversion, biogas production, biomass power, carbon intensity, co2 utilization, combined heat & power, Fischer-Tropsch technology, food waste, hydrothermal carbonization, industrial enzymes, landfill management, microbial fermentation, organic synthesis, plastic pyrolysis, plastic recycling, plastic waste, pyrolysis oil, reactor design, renewable identification number, the Renewable Fuel Standard (rfs2), solid recovered fuels, torrefaction and torrefied biomass, waste to energy, and waste-to-hydrogen. This is a multidisciplinary group of green energy consultants that is a virtual “one-stop-shop” for any client need and handles projects of all types and sizes.
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. See a video about LEC here. Call us at 1+ (501) 833-8511 or email us for more information.