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Objective

Objective

The Ethanol Research and Development Plant is housed in SEKAB’s premises in Örnsköldsvik and has a capacity of around 300-400 litres of ethanol per day. In order to manufacture this quantity, approximately 2 tonnes (dry weight) of wood chippings or other raw material that contains lignocellulose are used.

The technology is based on hydrolysing the cellulose and hemicellulose, whereupon the sugar is fermented to ethanol, which is then distilled. In weak acid hydrolysis, sulphuric acid or sulphur dioxide is used as a catalyst at temperatures of around 200ºC. In enzymatic hydrolysis, the material is first treated with a mild weak acid hydrolysis after which enzymes hydrolyse the remaining cellulose in a third stage. Both the weak acid and enzymatic processes are currently being evaluated at the plant.
 
The plant is extremely flexible and there are significant feedback possibilities in the process flow. In the four fermentors, it is possible to ferment with fed-batch or continuous technology. Initially, fir wood chippings are used, but other raw materials will also be studied.

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