Pretreatment and Fractionation Processes of Biomass

Recommended Prerequisites

knowledge of Chemistry and Morphology of Plant Biomass.  

Teaching Methods

Theoretical classes of 2 h/week. Support materials are provided. In the synthesis work on the use of a particular source of biomass, the student must identify the adequate pre-treatment and frationation processes for a target application. The work is prepared by groups of up to 2 students, followed by an oral presentation and discussion.
In Practical classes are used for demonstrations giving rise to a small report to be prepared by students.  

Learning Outcomes

Being the biomass pretreatment and component separation crucial for the efficient use of biomass (production of biofuels and other bioproducts) it is required to:
Recognize the pretreatment as the first decisive step for the conversion of biomass;
Know the various possible methods of pre-treatment, their advantages and disadvantages, and their range of application.
Recognize that the selection of the technique(s) of pre-treatment depends on the source of biomass, the fractionation processes, the conversion technology and the product to be obtained;
Know different fractionation processes, advantages and disadvantages;
Identify and / or to decide the way forward for the development of pre-treatment techniques and / or biomass fractionation in the student career / research work.

On the personal level it also allows to develop self-learning, research and communication skills.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

 - Introduction: treatment and fractionation techniques according to the type of biomass, conversion platform (sugar and thermochemical) and to end applications
- Physical processes: mechanical disintegration, ultrasound, extrusion, irradiation
- Physico-chemical processes: hydrothermal, simple steam explosion or in the presence of acid, SO2, ammonia or CO2
- Chemical processes: alkaline extraction, with solvents, hot water and alternative or pressurized solvents; acid hydrolysis; kraft, sulfite and organosolv processes; alkaline and wet oxidation; ozonolysis
- Biological processes: with enzymes, fungi, microorganisms
- Brief reference to thermochemical processes
- Detoxification of hydrolysates obtained by chemical or enzymatic hydrolysis, for subsequent use in fermentation media
- Effects of biomass treatment methods and state of development; factors which affect the efficiency of the biomass fractionation process.

Head Lecturer(s)

Maria da Graça Videira de Sousa Carvalho

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Laboratory work or Field work: 20.0%
Synthesis work: 80.0%

Bibliography

  - S.Yang, H.El-Ensashy, N.Thongchul (Eds.). Bioprocessing Technologies in Biorefinery for Sustainable Production of Fuels, Chemicals, and Polymers. 2013, Wiley Press. ISBN 978-0-470-54195-1
- P.R. Stuart, M.M.El Halwagi, Integrated Biorefineries: Design, Analysis and optimization, CRC Press, 2012, ISBN 9781439803462
- Pretreatment Techniques for Biofuels and Biorefineries, Zhen Fang (Ed.) Springer, 2012
- Biorefineries – Industrial Processes and products, birgit Kamm, Patrick R. Gruber, Michael Kamm (eds) vol1; vol2; Wiley, 2006
- IEA Bioenergy, Task 42 – Biorefining, René van Ree, Alniek van Zeeland (eds), Wageningen, 2014
- A. Hornung. Transformation of Biomass: Theory to Practice. 2014, Wiley. ISBN: 978-1-119-97327-0
- Capítulos de livros ou artigos de revisão sobre os temas propostas para o trabalho de síntese / - Book chapters or survey papers on the topics proposed for the synthesis work.