Glatt in the collaborative project “XyloSolv”

The solution approach pursued in this project involves ethanolic extraction downstream of xylan extraction for additional value creation through the extraction of lignin and pulp (see Figure 1). This approach makes it possible to set up a plant that can already operate economically on a relatively small scale, thus implementing the approach of a beechwood-based biorefinery on an industrial scale for the first time.

The project relates to the objectives of the “Förderprogramm Nachwachsende Rohstoffe” and pursues in particular:

• the development of new technologies and integrated utilization concepts along the entire value chain, e.g. within the framework of biorefinery concepts,
• the improvement of the competitiveness of the domestic economy, especially in rural areas, through new and/or improved processes and products, and
• the sustainable production of industrial and consumer goods.

It addresses the funding areas “raw material and residue preparation and processing” and “biobased products and bioenergy sources”.

In the work package handled by Glatt Ingenieurtechnik GmbH, the aim is to evaluate the process specifications worked out for the pilot scale, taking into account all the influencing factors relevant to the overall process with regard to scalability to production-relevant plant scales. The basis is a comprehensive balancing of the material and energy flows in order to be able to derive basic design rules and a plant concept. This should not only enable consistent product qualities at t throughputs, but also be characterized by loss-free recycling of the auxiliary materials (ethanol, etc.) and an optimum energy balance. Only under these conditions is the transfer of the “XyloSolv” technology into a manufacturing process that can be operated economically a given, which is to be confirmed in the course of the techno-economic evaluations.