NRG Dunkirk coal power plant on Lake Erie conducted co-firing tests with 10% wood

feedstocks in fall 2002

Wood thrush nesting in willow

Large quantities of wood residues from primary and secondary wood product manufacturers are available

Developing Woody Biomass Resources for Bioproducts and Bioenergy in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States

T.A. Volk, L.P. Abrahamson, E.H. White, A.J. Stipanovic, T.E. Amidon, J.P. Nakas State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY

SUNY Center for Sustainable and Renewable Energy

Rural development through commercialization of willow biomass crops

Additional Additional Applications – Applications – Willow CropsWillow Crops

Riparian buffer zones & nutrient management

Waste water management Phytoremediation Brownfield restoration Alternative landfill covers Living snowfences Carbon source for manure composting

Bioenergy Options

Cogeneration @ 100% – heat and power

Co-firing in existing power company coal boilers-Minor modification costs-Co-fire wood up to 20% by energy input

Gasification - 30% more efficient

Fuel Cell Technology

SUNY-ESF’s molten carbonate fuel cell – initially fueled by natural gas which will be replaced by syngas from willow biomass

SUNY-ESF Integrated Modular Wood Biorefinery Partnership

Environmental/Rural Environmental/Rural Development BenefitsDevelopment Benefits Net Energy ratio of 1:55 @ farm gate CO2 neutral feedstock Reduced NOx and SOx emissions Reduce use of petroleum for chemicals, products and fuels Bird density & diversity similar to natural shrub and forest habitatSoil microarthropod species density and richness similar to old fieldsSoil carbon levels stabilized Soil erosion minimized with cover crops75 jobs created for every 10,000 acres of willow crops planted

“Woody” or “Lignocellulosic” Biomass Feedstocks

Pro

cess

By-

pro

du

cts

Energy flow back to

[Module II]: Hemicellulose Extraction from wood feedstocks: Exploit the bio-enhanced accessibility of wood to selectively remove the hemicellulose fraction using water or aqueous solvents.

[Module I]: Bio-Delignification of woody biomass by Fungi or Recombinant Enzymes (Biopulping) – 30% less energy required

Partially Delignified Biomass

Portfolio of New Bioproducts and Energy Resources from Wood: bio-based chemicals (levulinic acid), biofuels/biodiesel, biodegradable plastics/thermoplastic polyesters, composite materials, thermoset polymers, polymers, ethanol, adhesives, sulfur-free pulping/paper

Hemicellulose Utilization: a) xylan processing into biodegradable polymers, blends and composites, (b) Acid catalyzed conversion of hemicelluloses for the production of xylitol, 2,3-butanediol and furan polymers [Module VI]. & Production of Biodegradable Plastics by exploiting microbial fermentation to yield biodegradable, thermoplastic polyesters [Module VIII].

[Module IV]:NREL Clean Fractionation (CF) Process: To compliment I and II, optimize the organosolv fractionation technology developed at NREL to isolate cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin from “biopulped” feedstocks. (3 Products)

Cellulose Utilization: a) Application of cellulose fibrils and nanocrystals in new materials including composites and chiral separation media, (b) conversion of low fiber quality cellulose to glucose, ethanol and hydroxymethyl furfural, (c) papermaking. [Module V]

Closed-Loop Willow Biomass Growth Cycle

Forest ResiduesWood Manufacturing Residues

Biorefinery process

Acknowledgments: This work is conducted with support from the US Dept. of Energy through the Biomass Power for Rural Development Program, the New York State Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), and the US Dept. of Agriculture Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service (USDA CSREES).

Biorefinery Partners:National Labs: University Collaborators:DOE National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) Syracuse University USDA Western Regional Center Virginia Polytechnic InstituteIndustrial Collaborators: Youngstown State University BioFine Eastman Chemical Company Cornell University

Research Institutes: Process NMR Associates Granit SA Institute of Paper Science and Technology Andritz Inc. BioPulping International Empire State Paper Research InstituteNew Holland Antares Inc. Non-Participation Supporters:New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) American Forest and Paper Association – Agenda 2020 Chief Technology Officer Committee Rayonier

McNeil Generating Station & wood gasifier of Burlington Electric Department

[Module IX]: Thermodepolymerization (TDP): Exploit high temperature, high-pressure pyrolysis of woody materials in water to yield medium BTU fuel gas and chemical feedstocks. (with Youngstown State University)

Sulfur-Free Lignin Utilization: Synthesis of adhesives and thermosetting polymers based on sulfur-free lignin and the pyrolysis of lignin to yield organic chemicals and fuel gases. [Module VII]

[Module III]: Delignification - Oxygen and Catalytic Based, Sulfur-Free Pulping: Separate and isolate the cellulose and lignin fractions of wood, after biopulping and hemicellulose removal, using lower energy and a reduced chemical charge compared to existing pulping processes that use sulfur-based compounds.

Forest residues from timber stand improvement operations for timber, wildlife, and recreation can produce 5 to 10 green tons per acre

One-year-old after coppice

Three-year-old willow after coppice: can produce 30 green tons per acre

Establishment year growth

Harvest after leaf fall.