FP6 - 518312 BIOCOUP - Co-processing of upgraded bio-liquids in standard refinery units

Contacts
Website: www.biocoup.eu
Summary Information



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Bulk Chemicals : Chemical Conversion : Separation/Fractionation : Sustainable Development and Renewable Energy : Thermochemical Conversion : Wood (Lignocellulose)



Further Information.

The activities of this project are divided into the following sub-projects.

SP1 : Primary fractionation and liquefaction - SP leader: VTT

Objectives: In order to reduce the costs of primary bio-oils, an innovative integrated bio-oil concept will be developed in this SP, from a number of viable biomass feed stocks. These oils will be used in subsequent de-oxygenation processes. The target is to reduce the costs of primary bio-oils up to 30 %, through an innovative integrated bio-oil concept from a number of biomass feedstocks (initially especially residues from forestry industries). The work-programme also aims to achieve the following specific objectives:

• To generate experimental data
• To produce uniform quality bio-oils
• To further the development of methods to fractionate black liquor and to convert certain fractions into bio-refinery feedstocks.

SP 2 Bio-liquid de-oxygenation - SP leader: UT

Objectives: Primary bio-liquids typically have oxygen contents of about 50% and cannot be processed in standard refinery units. Current de-oxygenation processes are not mature and very expensive due to high hydrogen costs. This SP aims to develop a new technology for decreasing this oxygen content. The quality of the produced bio-liquid should satisfy the requirements for co-processing in a traditional mineral oil refinery. The work-programme also has the following objectives:

• Definition of benchmarks for the quality of the upgraded bio-liquids;
• Generation of a database for quality specifications of upgraded bio-liquids, related to the co-processing in existing crude oil refineries;
• Development of technologies, and determination of their optimal process conditions
• Production of 25 kg samples for laboratory testing
• Production of at least 250 litres upgraded bio-liquid samples for analysis and testing in small-scale test facilities mimicking standard refinery processes

SP3 : Co-processing opportunities of biomass derived components in archetypal refinery units - SP leader : SHELL

Objectives: The opportunities for biomass co-processing in standard refinery units will be assessed, regarding the technical and economical feasibility. The parameters of the refinery units most viable for bio-liquid co-processing will be defined, as well as their change depending on the bio-liquid specifications. The products derived from biomass-derived refinery co-processing will be intrinsically chemically indistinguishable from their fossil fuel based counterparts. This will allow a seamless integration of bio-refinery co-processing products to the end consumer for products such as transport fuels and chemicals, and provide an important stimulus to biomass acceptance and further technological development of biomass production routes. The work-programme also includes the following objectives

• Assessment of the opportunities for biomass co-processing in standard refinery units Establish decision criteria and define which standard refinery units are most technically and economically viable for bio-liquid co-processing dependent on bio-liquid specifications. Determine the effect of bio-liquid co-processing on key refinery unit parameters and detailed documentation of the necessary bio-liquid specifications after upgrading Acquire comprehensive technical data on product yields to determine the contribution from the bio-component.

SP4 : Production of Discrete Oxygerated. Target Compounds - SP leader: ARKEMA

Objectives: The key advantage of the bio-liquids produced over crude oil is their high content of oxygenates. The main objectives of SP4 are to establish technologies for the production of discrete target compounds from the bio-liquids produced in SP1 and SP2 and the use of these compounds to derive industrial oxygenated chemicals and products. The other objectives of this SP include:

• A selection and evaluation of discrete oxygenated target compounds and industrial oxygenated chemical products currently available
• Identification of optimal recovery and fractionation strategies and technologies for the production of discrete target compounds and phenolic fractions from the bio-liquids produced in SP1 and SP2
• Generation of design data and development of models
• Bench scale production of target compound fraction and/or discrete components samples for further use in fractionation, chemical/biochemical synthesis and product evaluation
• Product performance evaluation of the oxygenated target chemicals in their key industrial applications
• Conceptual design of the recovery and fractionation operations and integration of these conceptual designs with the bio-liquid production operations from SP1 and SP2

SP 5 : Scenario Analysis - SP leader: VTT

Objectives: The most promising optimised biomass-refinery chains will be assessed both technically and economically. This SP will also:

• Gather/generate economical data for all relevant operations
• Evaluate the impacts of the co-processing integration and develop book-keeping methods for bio-inputs to conventional refineries
• Identify the most promising chain(s) on basis of predicted technical, economical and LCA-performances and conclude about their competitiveness in comparison with other biorefinery approaches
• Outline a favourable development path

SP6 : Transversal Activities - SP leader : ALMA

Objectives: Dissemination of the knowledge generated within BIOCOUP. Support of the management of the project is also organised so that the objectives are achieved with allocated resources. The tasks of this SP will be:

• To disseminate scientific, technological and products/process/system non-confidential knowledge generated within the BIOCOUP project, to the industrial chain, business, technology providers and academic communities.
• To provide personal and distance-learning training to extend Science & Technology understanding of the biorefinery concept, and in parallel, promote S&T cohesion within the European Research Area and so increase skills across Europe.
• To support protection of intellectual property resulting from the project, by ensuring that the relevant partners can patent the technological capabilities and the products/process/system applications they in turn enable.
• To raise the awareness of standards organisations and other relevant networks and associations on both the activity within BIOCOUP and how this can contribute to the development of existing or new standards and work practices.
• To ensure the achievement of project objectives with adequate resources, providing planning and monitoring procedures for adequate management of the overall research and technical work
• To give analytical support to SP1, SP2, SP3, and SP4 through characterization of both feedstocks and products prior to conversion, upgrading or separation.
• To ensure that uniform analytical methods are used throughout the project.