Low Cost Fuels Production from Agricultural Wastes Using Chemical Regeneration

Bioconversion of lignocellulosic wastes to fuels and chemicals requires pretreatment to enhance conversion and reduce overall costs. Texas A&M University (TAMU) has tested a lime pretreatment process that is effective and low-cost. A significant element of the pretreatment cost is the lime regeneration system. To reduce costs, Altex has identified the Low Cost Lime Regenerator (LCLR). The LCLR is more compact, less costly and more efficient than conventional regeneration systems. Based on equipment supplier inputs, the LCLR can reduce lime regeneration costs by 55 percent. Under the Phase II program, TAMU and Altex will work together to demonstrate the lime pretreatment and LCLR lime regeneration concepts in a 2 TPD test system. Also, with input from equipment suppliers, full-scale system designs and capital and operating costs will be refined. System performance and costs will then be compared to those for conventional systems. This will show the benefits of the biomass lime pretreatment and LCLR approaches over existing method.