80
J. L. Shamshina and R. D. Rogers
After multiple, unsuccessful pilot trials, the optimal conditions (biomass load,
temperature, flow rate through the microwave, residual time in the microwave, and
process time) for the dissolution of biomass in the reactor were determined. Optimal
conditions resulted in a high yield of approximately 95% (as percent of available
chitin in biomass). A mass balance was completed using the optimal conditions of
biomass dissolution based on different reagent streams, reagent consumption, and
product recovery (i.e., using multi-parametric input). This permitted multi-step evaluations for the determination of the process inputs and outputs based on production
cycles.
An energy balance was completed using the overall energy consumption in each
energy-demanding step based on production. Cost analyses were conducted where
scale-up of some 30 equipment items was handled either through increasing the
size or capacity of the equipment (so-called economies of scale) or by increasing
throughput by projecting the purchase of additional units of defined capacity. To
date, no other entity has scaled this IL process to this size.
This project resulted in a fully engineered system, developed key engineering data
and diagrams, as well as determined the equipment needed in a full-scale operating
plant. Processing performance testing was conducted while manufacturing chitin
on a pilot scale. The results of these studies were used to establish manufacturing
capability and process robustness and to mitigate the risks before committing to a
full-scale production process.
4.3.4 Mari Signum, Mid-Atlantic: The First Facility to Use
Ionic Liquid-Based Chitin Extraction at a Production
Scale
The knowledge obtained in these efforts was used to raise capital investment for
building and operating a biomass/IL facility. Mari Signum, Mid-Atlantic, LLC (Mari
Signum) [77] was formed as a chitin and chitin materials production company. The
ultimate goal of Mari Signum, Mid-Atlantic, LLC is to become a sustainable source
of high-quality chitin as well as chitin-based products developed in-house.
Mari Signum acquired the worldwide exclusive license for the portfolio of intellectual property (IP) that protects the manufacture of chitin. This IP will allow Mari
Signum to maintain its position in the market and protect its competitive advantages. The licensing granted Mari Signum not only the rights to the chitin-extraction
patents, but also all patents associated with high-value products. These products from
chitin, and not chitin itself, would, indeed, be key components in the development
of a “chitin economy”.
Mari Signum’s facility will be the first of its kind to use IL-based processing on
a manufacturing scale that will allow the generation of sufficient supplies of highquality chitin, which is unobtainable by any known chemical pulping processes. Mari
Signum is currently building a processing plant for chitin isolation from crustacean
J. L. Shamshina and R. D. Rogers
After multiple, unsuccessful pilot trials, the optimal conditions (biomass load,
temperature, flow rate through the microwave, residual time in the microwave, and
process time) for the dissolution of biomass in the reactor were determined. Optimal
conditions resulted in a high yield of approximately 95% (as percent of available
chitin in biomass). A mass balance was completed using the optimal conditions of
biomass dissolution based on different reagent streams, reagent consumption, and
product recovery (i.e., using multi-parametric input). This permitted multi-step evaluations for the determination of the process inputs and outputs based on production
cycles.
An energy balance was completed using the overall energy consumption in each
energy-demanding step based on production. Cost analyses were conducted where
scale-up of some 30 equipment items was handled either through increasing the
size or capacity of the equipment (so-called economies of scale) or by increasing
throughput by projecting the purchase of additional units of defined capacity. To
date, no other entity has scaled this IL process to this size.
This project resulted in a fully engineered system, developed key engineering data
and diagrams, as well as determined the equipment needed in a full-scale operating
plant. Processing performance testing was conducted while manufacturing chitin
on a pilot scale. The results of these studies were used to establish manufacturing
capability and process robustness and to mitigate the risks before committing to a
full-scale production process.
4.3.4 Mari Signum, Mid-Atlantic: The First Facility to Use
Ionic Liquid-Based Chitin Extraction at a Production
Scale
The knowledge obtained in these efforts was used to raise capital investment for
building and operating a biomass/IL facility. Mari Signum, Mid-Atlantic, LLC (Mari
Signum) [77] was formed as a chitin and chitin materials production company. The
ultimate goal of Mari Signum, Mid-Atlantic, LLC is to become a sustainable source
of high-quality chitin as well as chitin-based products developed in-house.
Mari Signum acquired the worldwide exclusive license for the portfolio of intellectual property (IP) that protects the manufacture of chitin. This IP will allow Mari
Signum to maintain its position in the market and protect its competitive advantages. The licensing granted Mari Signum not only the rights to the chitin-extraction
patents, but also all patents associated with high-value products. These products from
chitin, and not chitin itself, would, indeed, be key components in the development
of a “chitin economy”.
Mari Signum’s facility will be the first of its kind to use IL-based processing on
a manufacturing scale that will allow the generation of sufficient supplies of highquality chitin, which is unobtainable by any known chemical pulping processes. Mari
Signum is currently building a processing plant for chitin isolation from crustacean