The biorefinery in New York: woody biomass into commercial ethanol

HIS PAPER REPORTS the application of ESF (College of Environmental Science and Forestry) Biorefinery concepts and technology in New York State industry. This is a planned application linking at least three industrial companies to reduce the time to practice. A wood-based biorefinery is being erected in New York. Identifying the strengths of the participating companies and required competencies of the wood-based biorefinery is the first step in making the biorefinery a reality. Some components will have additional details added to explain the opportunity envisioned. The potential utility of water based hemicellulose extraction applications to both the paper industry and the wood fuel industry are discussed. WHILE the world crude oil reserves could take us into the next century if well managed, the stability of oil supply has been a drag to the world economy. Klass [1] estimated that world crude can last until 2027 if based solely on the currently proven conventional reserve. His most optimistic estimate is that the oil could last until 2100 based on the current growth in energy consumption and potential other oil sources such as new discoveries and oil sands. From the oil producers’ view, oil could last until the middle of next century [2]. In any case, we have to look for alternatives to petroleum. Awareness of environmental impacts, stability and sustainability of energy supply has made the development and implementation of bio-based chemical / energy imperative. Domestic energy security and rural economies both benefit from a plant derived chemical/energy economic base. The hemicelluloses fraction of woody biomass, typically 20 ~ 35 % of the dry wood mass, is currently an underutilized renewable resource potentially useful for bio-based fuels, chemicals and polymeric materials [3]. Championed through SUNY ESF, converting hemicelluloses into commercial ethanol has become the leading component of the biorefinery effort in New York. Hot-water extraction prior to chemical pulping or burning of woodchips makes for potentially profitable utilization and commercialization of the wood extracts and may improve the niche market advantage of pulps produced or the green electrical power produced. BIOREFINERY IN NEW YORK We are embarking on enhancing the speed to application of a new technology by erecting a virtual enterprise from multiple companies with much to gain in their core businesses from the parts of the novel technology that look easy to them. New York is leading nationally by establishing the first wood-based biorefinery with multiple companies operating in the state. The biorefinery is past the stage of attracting attention in New York and is a concept to be implemented. With the enthusiasm of the participating companies and encouragement from the state and federal governments, the biorefinery envisioned at SUNY ESF is moving towards reality. The first wood-based biorefinery will utilize wood as the main raw material. The main products involving pulp mill applications are cellulose for fiber/pulp/paper, hemicelluloses / extractives for ethanol and chemicals, and lignin for energy. In green electric power applications, the main products are hemicelluloses and extractives for ethanol and chemicals and the rest cellulose and lignin for electricity (energy). Central New York is strategically located for the first wood-based biorefinery. As the bulk of the industrial activities and a large fraction of portable fuel use in the United States is concentrated in the east, production of liquid bio-fuel ethanol in New York has a distinct advantage and strategic importance to the national economy. Based on the regional statistics provided by DOE [4], the Northeast alone accounts for about 17% of the total US transportation fuel consumption and 80% of total US fuel oil consumption for heating buildings. Securing the woody raw materials locally also ensures that the energy consumption for the raw material transportation is minimized. Producing ethanol in New York reduces the transportation distances to fuel distribution centers in the Northeast USA. Therefore, New York is ideally suited for the first wood-based biorefinery.