Increased biogas yields from digesting pre-treated biomass!

A recent (January 2014) study[1] found that biogas production increased after e.g. acidic pre-treatment of lignocellulosic biomass. We suggest that our BBS-Biorefining™ and/or  µ-BioRefinery™ are ideal pathways to provide an effective and Paid4PreTreatment™!

For the Owners of Biomass:

DalinYebo offers technology and market access for the production of furfural. Contact us to discuss the potential your biomass has for the additional production of furfural.

Reference:

[1] Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology

The "Low-hanging Fruit" offers shareholders in the sugar or pulp & paper industry a low risk expansion opportunity into the future of bioenergy/biochemicals.

The pulp & paper as well as the sugar industries are large employers and have the ability to create additional and especially to maintain current jobs. In order to remain globally competitive, we suggest that these industries have to invest in improving energy efficiencies, reduce water consumption and optimise their biomass value chains.

During our ten years of active R&D involvement, we discovered that beneficiating biomass requires far less innovation than hands-on practical knowhow on applying known systems and proven technologies. E.g. the benefit of demonstrating proven technology in a novel combination will by far outweigh the outcome of investing in biorefinery R&D!

There are existing (fit-for-purpose) bolt-on biorefining technologies available that don't need R&D to convert the "low-hanging fruit". Biofuels/bioenergy is still a 'newish' territory and needs perhaps loan-guarantees in addition to the (e.g. R&D) tax incentives to motivate existing industries to pursue this avenue. There are is also a (perceived) lack of government policy that would speed-up the introduction of e.g 1G or 2G bioethanol into the fuel supply or to accept biobased electricity from the above two industries into the grid.

The "Low-hanging Fruit" is the forbidden fruit, if you want to create long-term jobs.

South Africa has vast tracts of land that can be developed, but they are not suitable for timber or sugarcane. In South Africa's rural areas the unemployment figures are in excess of 35%. The employment share of the agricultural sector is only approximately 8%. Therefore: Is it not obvious on what biorefining developments have to focus on?

The absence of a "client" for the farmers to supply their biomass to is one of the key strategies behind the creation of the GreenEnergyPark™ or the µ-BioRefinery™ developments. Based on proven technology, these biorefineries are able to process different non-food biomass or agricultural residues of the food-chain, which can be removed from the fields without negative impact on soil or water. They are small factories and each one of them can become a node in a web of rural economic development (See "Economy of Numbers vs. Economy of Scale").

Scope of Technologies & Services

Click on the individual images to reveal article

Related Sites

Connecting-The-Dots™ (Creating Biobased Businesses: About our experience to connect the many "dots" of the value chains that every successful biobased business needs)

µ-BioRefinery™ (in propinquitatem ad biomasa; Bringing biorefining in proximity to biomass)

GreenEnergyPark™ (Smart biomass - agricultural/forest residues - conversions to energy, chemicals and commercial products)

International Furan Technology (An independent developer and implementer of furfural process technologies)

There is a strong case to be made for a co-operative, biobased economy in Africa ..

.. and that therefore includes small, decentralised, rural production units, which form part of a greater supply chain. Africa specifically and emerging economies (BRICS) in general, have enormous agricultural land development potential. Our µ-BioRefinery™ is geared towards enabling small-scale processing of (non-food) biomass in rural areas. Besides its ability of processing agricultural residues that can be removed without negative impact on soil or water, our micro-biorefining approach also offers a selection of "energy" crops that are suitable for many African growing conditions. The µ-BioRefinery™ will bring additional revenue to small-holder farmers and will empower these farmers to move from subsistence farming to participating in the sustainable growth of the green economic.

DalinYebo's holistic approach in Connecting-The-Dots™ of the entire biomass-to-market value chain provides knowhow that extends beyond the optimising/maximising technical aspects or implementing projects. That is why our team consists not only of technical and projects specialists, but also includes professionals from and farming, biomass transport/logistics, plant breeding, plant pathology, genetics, biotechnology, marketing, economy and accounting.

Socio-economic Impact

Job creation is a key-focus of our activities. In collaboration with a rural development NGO, we determined that at least 1 new direct and permanent job is created per 2 ha (Reference: uThukela GreenEnergyPark™ concept plan). Assuming a greenfields cluster of three µ-BioRefineries, using sweet stem sorghum as its feedstock, the newly created jobs in the farming sector would be ±5,000. Using a conservative multiplier, once can expect in excess of 12,000 new and permanent jobs.

The above business cluster projects a combined annual income of R0.55 billion (US$55 million). In South Africa, we have identified at least 5 areas for the development of these clusters. Then there is the rest of Africa and the BRICS: Economy-Of-Numbers at its best!

Achieving the Millennium Goals

The values of co-operation – equity, solidarity, self-help and mutual responsibility – are cornerstones of our shared endeavour to build a fairer world. (Kofi Annan, 29/06/2001)

The collaborative economic approach of the µ-BioRefinery™ recognises the contribution SMMEs or co-operatives can make to achieving the Millennium goals of full and productive employment, eradicating poverty, enhancing social integration and promoting the advancement of women.

Connecting-The-Dots™

Economy of Numbers vs. Economy of Scale

Click on the image to learn more about how we connect the dots

Related Sites

Connecting-The-Dots™ (Creating Biobased Businesses: About our experience to connect the many "dots" of the value chains that every successful biobased business needs)

µ-BioRefinery™ (in propinquitatem ad biomasa; Bringing biorefining in proximity to biomass)

GreenEnergyPark™ (Smart biomass - agricultural/forest residues - conversions to energy, chemicals and commercial products)

International Furan Technology (An independent developer and implementer of furfural process technologies)

Furfural is a B2B trade and market data is not easily available to market outsiders. DalinYebo's prices are based on our own trading insights. Market statistics are obtained from global trade statistics, using the harmonised tariff code (29321200).

For 10 years, until 2009, furfural prices have remained in a relatively stable band of between $650/t and $1,200/t FOB (CMP). During this period, the Chinese were found guilty (in the US and Europe) of dumping, which to some degree explains the low prices. In recent years, however, internal demand has absorbed Chinese production capacity. China has from time to time started to import furfural. China has ±80% of the global furfural production capacity and consumes about ±75% of it. Therefore, the global furfural prices are determined by domestic Chinese issues, such as droughts/floods, labour costs, feedstock costs/availability, government policies (e.g. anti-pollution or finance, etc.).

It's complicated: Based on above price determinants and given the current economic outlook for 2014, we expect the prices to remain in a US$1,400/t to US$1,500/t FOB (CMP) price range.

Also see:

Furfural Price Tracker (for registered users)

Market Analysis (Abstract) (for registered users)

The Pricing of Furfural (in China) (for our client users)

Market Access: Masterkey

Marketing: DalinYebo Trading and Development (Pty) Ltd

About Biomass & Furfural

For owners of biomass we offer technology and market access, creating investment opportunities in the cleantech space. Contact us to discuss the potential your biomass has for the production of furfural.

For the agri (Biomass) processing, sugar, pulp&paper, etc. industries, we provide knowhow and technology to convert (residual) biomass to chemicals and energy.

For our clients, we provide regular updates on furfural price and volume trends. We also identify market and business growth opportunities.

This article is part of a series on "biomass for furfural" production, which provides our clients with updates and analysis on the fundamentals and competitiveness of a variety of feedstock and their conversion to chemicals and energy (incl. biofuels).

Although in concentrated form, furfuryl mercaptan is a foul smelling compound. In 1926 it was already patented as coffee’s main odor active compound. It is a furan molecule substituted with a sulfanylmethyl group and is a clear colourless liquid when pure, but it becomes yellow coloured upon prolonged standing.

flavorscientist.com: Furfuryl mercaptan (otherwise known as coffee mercaptan) is the characterizing component of coffee. Coffee flavor and Furfuryl mercaptan are generated by a roasting process and a chemical reaction called the Maillard reaction. The Maillard reaction is one of the most important reactions in food flavor development. The Maillard reaction is between a carbonyl group (sugar) and an amino compound (protein). Degradation of the condensation products of this reaction give a number of oxygenated compounds; such as furans, pyrazines, pyrroles, oxazoles, thiophenes, thiazoles and other heterocyclic compounds.

Furfuryl mercaptan is found in other roasted foods: beef, pork, chicken and popcorn.

coffeechemistry.com: What else is your cup of coffee?

Also see:

Furfural Derivatives in Apple Cider and Wine

The expert panel of FEMA (Flavor and Extract Manufacturers' Association) assessed Furfural as GRAS (generally recognised as safe). More ..

In July 2013, we reported on the potential that distiller's grain has for furfural production. The smart integration of furfural production into the mass and energy balance (The-Right-Balance™: in this case of a corn ethanol plant) results in energy savings, an additional saleable product (furfural) and an improved end product (in this case animal feed). These improvements were highlighted by researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (USA) in a process and economic study^[1]:

Furfural was produced from DDG while animal feed value of DDG was also retained.

Furfural was produced through dilute acid reaction followed by batch or BRD process.

BRD was superior to batch method in furfural yield and purity.

The economic model predicted an increased profitability for corn ethanol plants.

Animal feed yield was crucial to the economy of the furfural conversion process.

The basis of their economic evaluation is based on assuming favourable inputs (e.g. highest furfural price, best yields, experimental laboratory and mathematical modelling conditions, etc.).

Our review this publication, against our practical furfural processes experience, predicts a lower benefit than the study suggests.

However, it is important to note that there is certainly a benefit (!) and, in addition, there are other untapped downstream revenue potentials.

Also see:

For our clients, we publishes a critical review on this paper and, in our view, a more realistic re-evaluation of this great economic potential.

Biomass for furfural production: Distiller's Grain

Connecting-the-Dots™

Reference:

[1] dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2014.02.025, Co-production of feed and furfural from dried distillers’ grains to improve corn ethanol profitability, Department of Biological Systems Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI 53706, United States

We have previously reported on:

The Masterkey to the furfural business and 

Why the production of furfural is not Rocket Science.

In the presentation below, we showcase the last 12 projects with links to the summaries of our consulting activities (business plans, feasibility studies, concept plans, project development plans, etc.)

Related Sites

Connecting-The-Dots™ (Creating Biobased Businesses: About our experience to connect the many "dots" of the value chains that every successful biobased business needs)

µ-BioRefinery™ (in propinquitatem ad biomasa; Bringing biorefining in proximity to biomass)

GreenEnergyPark™ (Smart biomass - agricultural/forest residues - conversions to energy, chemicals and commercial products)

International Furan Technology (An independent developer and implementer of furfural process technologies)

Furan, which is made from furfural, is a heterocyclic organic compound, consisting of a five-membered aromatic ring with four carbon atoms and one oxygen. The class of compounds containing such rings are also referred to as furans.

May 2014 - Asian J of Biosciences[1]: Furan a five membered heterocycles has been found with enormous biological activities with the suitable modifications in the structure. The present review is an attempt made to direct the attention of the researchers towards the Furan ring for the development of newer chemical entities. Which are quite useful in the treatment of various life threatening diseases and disorders? Along with the development in the various methods used for the environmentally benign synthesis of Furan with profound biological activities.

.. allow them to interact easily with the biopolymers, possess potential activity with lower toxicities in the chemotherapeutic approach in man.

Reference:

[1] Medworld-asia International Publishers, Asian J of Biosciences, May 2014 (1) 01, 07-14 (For our clients: Download here)

Furan Derivatives: Useful treatment of life threatening diseases Asian Journal of Biosciences is an open access, double blind peer revived, bimonthly journal dedicated for publication of high quality research work and unique findings in the field of Biosciences by Medworld - asia .

Also see:

Furfuryl Alginate: Useful for Wound Healing

Biomass to Pharmaceuticals

From Biomass to Medicines

J Agric Food Chem. 2014 Jan 3.[1]: Prothrin, a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide, was synthesized from the biomass-derived platform chemical 5-(chloromethyl)furfural in six steps and overall 65% yield. Two structural analogues of prothrin were also prepared following the same synthetic approach. Preliminary testing of these furan-based pyrethroids against the yellow fever mosquito Aedes Aegypti indicates promising insecticidal activities.

CMF is made in a one-step reaction under mild conditons from C6-sugars (e.g. D-fructose, D-glucose, sucrose etc.) or polysaccharides such as cellulose[2].

References:

[1] J Agric Food Chem. 2014 Jan 3

[2] Example: Highly efficient dehydration of carbohydrates to 5-(chloromethyl)furfural (CMF), 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (HMF) and levulinic acid by biphasic continuous flow processing, Green Chemistry, Issue 5, 2011 (For our clients: Download publication and supporting information here).

Also see:

Nematicides

Biomass to Pharmaceuticals

From Biomass to Medicines

Poly(Furfuryl Alcohol), PFA, is obtained from a condensation polymerisation of furfuryl alcohol (FA). FA is made from furfural , which is manufactured from a variety of biomass.
GenericSTructureOfPFA
Generic structure of PFA

Biomass-based furan resins are mainly known in the foundry industry. In addition, user-friendly furan resin systems have been developed for variety of composite applications [1]. Besides the use in the automotive industry, PFA composites have a high thermal stability and could also be used in interior of aircraft cabins, internal fittings for buildings, rail carriages or in the built environment [2].

Some fibre-reinforced PFA options:

Cellulosic fibre, e.g.: flax, hemp, sisal, bagasse or wood

Non-woven cellulose fibres

Carbon fibres or glass fibres

Mineral or graphite filler for use as a cementing binder for chemical resistant polymer concrete.

Eco-friendly thermo-stable bioresin:

PFA blended with lignin increases the biocomposite resin's strength[3]

References:

[1] Application of novel furan resins in composites, Dr. IR. Hans E. Hoydonckx, & Dr. IR. Wim M. Van Rhijn, Transfurans Chemical.

[2] Kumar, R and Anandjiwala, R. 2009. Flax reinforced thermoset composites from poly(furfuryl alcohol). 11th International Conference on Advanced Materials (ICAM). Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 20-25 September 2009, pp 1-20

[3]  PFA ligninMacromolecular Materials and Engineering, Volume 299, Issue 5, pages 552–559, May 2014:  Renewable-Resource-Based Green Blends from Poly(furfuryl alcohol) Bioresin and Lignin.

Also see:

New Green Materials

Furfural By-products

Bioplastics

Furfural and urea react in an acid catalysed medium. The aldehyde group of furfural undergoes condensation with two urea and link the two urea substrate with the release of a water molecule to form a pure white furfural-urea resin (FUR).

A group of Indian scientists have developed an efficient synthesis of of untainted, superior furfural urea resin (FUR) [1]. Urea, a carbamide, is common organic chemical with versatile characteristics. It forms resins with aldehydes, most commonly formaldehyde, to produce urea-formaldehyde (UF) resins, which is used as a wood adhesive for many years, and is still the most widely used interior plywood and particleboard adhesive.

Urea is an attractive chemical for wood improvement because of its non-toxicity, cheapness and ease of use. However, formaldehyde-urea resins emit formaldehyde. Plywood interior furniture, or kitchen cupboards made from particle boards release formaldehyde, indoors! Formaldehyde is classified by the WHO as a known human carcinogen [2].

In order to reduce indoor formaldehyde levels, inferior glues with less formaldehyde have been used, since the 1980s, whilst research continued to find suitable alternatives.

The reaction of furfural and urea has been researched in the early 20th century. Until now, there were too many draw-backs to make it a viable process. This new synthesis, using a (natural!) zeolite catalyst, has eliminated them.

The new process claims the following:

Reduced reaction time.

Enhanced product quality.

The process is benign, environ friendly, efficient and extremely fast.

The natural zeolite catalyst can be recycled and reused, several times.

Reference:

[1] International Journal of Innovative Research in Science, Engineering and Technology (An ISO 3297: 2007 Certified Organization), Vol. 3, Issue 5, May 2014: Indian Natural Zeolites Catalyzed Urea Furfural Green Polymerization. (For our clients: Download publication and supporting information here)

[2] IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans Volume 88 (2006) Formaldehyde ..., WHO Press, 2006( English ).

Also see:

Furfuryl Alcohol: Turing Softwood into Hardwood

Furfural and the Rainforest

Furfurly Alcohol

New Green Materials

Furfuryl alcohol, which is made from bio-renewable furfural, is the main ingredient used for wood-modification processes like 'kebonisation', which convert softwoods in looks and properties that are similar to tropical hardwood. Originally designed to replace the toxic CCA process, furfurylation of wood offers non-toxic woods for playgrounds, floors, cladding, etc.

from Kebony.com: Developed in Norway, the Kebony technology is an environmentally friendly patented process, which enhances the properties of non-durable softwoods with a bio-based liquid.

As a result the wood’s cell structure is permanently modified adopting premium characteristics. Kebony is a highly durable, sustainable wood ..

.. with the aesthetics and performance of the best tropical hardwood, which requires minimum maintenance and brings low life cycle costs. Suitable for internal and external applications that demand high performance and great aesthetics, Kebony is available in clear and character grade pines. All Kebony woods acquire a silver patina after exposure to the elements.

Recognized as Technology Pioneer 2014 by the World Economic Forum and Global Cleantech Tech 100, Kebony has been embraced by leading architects and developers internationally, served through a global sales and distribution network.

Kebony: The New Wood

Also see:

Furfural and the Rainforest

New Green Materials

Eco-friendly High Quality Resins (Wood Glues)

Furfurly Alcohol