348
Chapter 20 · Refined Raw Materials! – Biorefineries
20
possible to integrate all the conversions at the
unsaturated fat chain that are described in
7 Chap. 4 into the vegetable oil biorefinery,
but most of them are still a long way from an
industrial-scale implementation.
In conclusion, we expanded our vegetable oil
biorefinery in such a way that we were able
to use almost all the product streams that
occurred. Several conversions with which we
are familiar have turned into an overall concept that meets the current requirements of a
biorefinery in terms of sustainability and integration.
5 Both secondary refining processes produce glycerol as a by-product. For glycerol,
we have already seen industrially relevant
reactions in 7 Chap. 5. For example, glycerol
can be converted biotechnologically into
1,3-propanediol or chemically into epichlorohydrin.
5 After further conversion, the fatty acids are
suitable for the production of lubricants
(final product), for instance. The fatty acid
methyl esters can be used to produce fatty
alcohols (semi-finished products), which
can be converted into surfactants at different sites (7 Chap. 3). Of course, it is also
BOX: Grass-Green Biorefinery
In recent years, Austria has done
outstanding pioneering work
to promote a particular variant
of biorefinery: The “Green
Biorefinery”.
The raw material for this
type of biorefinery is pasture
grass, which grows on many
so-called permanent green
areas in Austria. The structural
change in European agriculture
expected in the long term and
the endeavor to preserve the
green areas that characterize
the landscape have led to the
development of concepts for
the use of pasture grass other
than merely feeding cattle.
In principle, pasture grass
is suitable for the industrial
production of biogas, but it is
not economical compared to
other raw materials. A different,
additional use thus had to be
found. Investigations were
carried out to find a way to use
the pasture grass not only for
energy but also for material
purposes and to make the
production of biogas from the
residues economical by selling
the biochemicals. This led to
the concept of the “Green
Biorefinery”.
After silage and mechanical
processing, the pasture grass is
first pressed and divided into
two fractions: The press cake and
the press juice.
The press cake serves primarily
as a substrate for the production
of biogas. However, fibers
that can be used for materials
can also be separated from it:
Well-known so far! The more
difficult part is the processing
of the press juice. With great
scientific know-how, the
University of Linz has developed
a series of processing, separation
and fractionation steps that
make it possible to isolate amino
acids and lactic acid from the
pressed juice. Lactic acid can be
used to produce PLA (7 Chap.
19), and amino acids can be
used as a biogenic, non-mineral
fertilizer.
In the demonstration plant
(. Fig. 20.4) in Utzenaich,
Austria, up to 400 L of pressed
juice could be used to produce
up to 12 kg of amino acids and
16 kg of lactic acid per hour.
The “Biofabrik Green Refinery”
cooperated with Utzenaich
on the development of the
biorefinery and, after joint
completion, took over and
further developed the entire
technology and now operates
it successfully in Blizevedly
in the Czech Republic. As
consumers, we can already
purchase fertilizers and amino
acid mixtures as dietary
supplements.
Chapter 20 · Refined Raw Materials! – Biorefineries
20
possible to integrate all the conversions at the
unsaturated fat chain that are described in
7 Chap. 4 into the vegetable oil biorefinery,
but most of them are still a long way from an
industrial-scale implementation.
In conclusion, we expanded our vegetable oil
biorefinery in such a way that we were able
to use almost all the product streams that
occurred. Several conversions with which we
are familiar have turned into an overall concept that meets the current requirements of a
biorefinery in terms of sustainability and integration.
5 Both secondary refining processes produce glycerol as a by-product. For glycerol,
we have already seen industrially relevant
reactions in 7 Chap. 5. For example, glycerol
can be converted biotechnologically into
1,3-propanediol or chemically into epichlorohydrin.
5 After further conversion, the fatty acids are
suitable for the production of lubricants
(final product), for instance. The fatty acid
methyl esters can be used to produce fatty
alcohols (semi-finished products), which
can be converted into surfactants at different sites (7 Chap. 3). Of course, it is also
BOX: Grass-Green Biorefinery
In recent years, Austria has done
outstanding pioneering work
to promote a particular variant
of biorefinery: The “Green
Biorefinery”.
The raw material for this
type of biorefinery is pasture
grass, which grows on many
so-called permanent green
areas in Austria. The structural
change in European agriculture
expected in the long term and
the endeavor to preserve the
green areas that characterize
the landscape have led to the
development of concepts for
the use of pasture grass other
than merely feeding cattle.
In principle, pasture grass
is suitable for the industrial
production of biogas, but it is
not economical compared to
other raw materials. A different,
additional use thus had to be
found. Investigations were
carried out to find a way to use
the pasture grass not only for
energy but also for material
purposes and to make the
production of biogas from the
residues economical by selling
the biochemicals. This led to
the concept of the “Green
Biorefinery”.
After silage and mechanical
processing, the pasture grass is
first pressed and divided into
two fractions: The press cake and
the press juice.
The press cake serves primarily
as a substrate for the production
of biogas. However, fibers
that can be used for materials
can also be separated from it:
Well-known so far! The more
difficult part is the processing
of the press juice. With great
scientific know-how, the
University of Linz has developed
a series of processing, separation
and fractionation steps that
make it possible to isolate amino
acids and lactic acid from the
pressed juice. Lactic acid can be
used to produce PLA (7 Chap.
19), and amino acids can be
used as a biogenic, non-mineral
fertilizer.
In the demonstration plant
(. Fig. 20.4) in Utzenaich,
Austria, up to 400 L of pressed
juice could be used to produce
up to 12 kg of amino acids and
16 kg of lactic acid per hour.
The “Biofabrik Green Refinery”
cooperated with Utzenaich
on the development of the
biorefinery and, after joint
completion, took over and
further developed the entire
technology and now operates
it successfully in Blizevedly
in the Czech Republic. As
consumers, we can already
purchase fertilizers and amino
acid mixtures as dietary
supplements.