Highlights

• Review of biomass pre-treatment processes 
• Product options and value from downstream processing of biomass fractions
• Biorefinery models and economic returns

Reasons to buy

• Understand the options in and implications of different biomass pre-treatments
• Guide decisions on biorefining investments
• Guide direction of biorefining research and collaboration decisions

Number of pages: 100 (additional technical appendices will be provided on request)

Accessibility: This item is available to all NNFCC subscribers or through individual purchase

Summary 

This report assesses the market for biomass fractionation technologies and the potential for downstream processing of components derived from biomass fractions to produce value added chemicals and fuels. The report is focused on opportunities for the North East of England.

Increasing consumer acceptance and demand for natural products, increasing demonstration of performance against fossil fuel derived products and the realisation of the role of biomass products in contributing to GHG emissions targets have led to the rapid expansion of the biomass-using industry in recent years.

Deriving maximum value from biomass means deriving value from all of its principal constituent parts, namely cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin. The application of biomass fractionation provides three product streams (lignin, cellulose and hemicelluloses) each of which can be sold as products. These products streams can be sold to a wide range of companies producing materials, chemicals, fuel, heat and power. The aim of this report is to identify which of these markets, and combination of markets, provides the North East with a business opportunity in biomass fractionation.

The report focuses on four important questions:

• How much biomass is available now and in the future?
• What biomass fractionation technologies there are and how do these affect the yield and quality of the different components?
• What is the potential for downstream processing of components derived from biomass fractions to value added chemicals and fuels?
• What is the market opportunity for chemicals and fuels?

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