Boise Inc. is being considered for a biotechnology project that would convert cellulosic sludge into partially refined ethanol. Research partners say the project would help Minnesota lead the way into the next generation of non-food source biofuels.
The project is being considered by Mascoma, a three-year-old Boston based corporation that researches technologies to produce ethanol from cellulosic biomass using natural processes. After research and a demonstration plant for organism development in New York, Mascoma was awarded a Department of Energy grant to build a small scale switch grass ethanol plant at a Tennessee refinery.
Bob Anderson, Boise public relations, said that staff from Mascoma, and interested project partners from the University of Minnesota and Minnesota Power, visited Boise in February. He said the visitors did conclude that ethanol could be produced from cellulosic sludge at Boise, but left saying more study was needed to consider the project.
“Mascoma is still exploring business opportunities in the state, but are still in early stages of discussions and therefore cannot share any details on the opportunities or the likelihood of them proceeding,” stated Kate Casolaro, Mascoma media relations.
Bob Elde, dean of the University of Minnesota College of Biological Sciences, is the lead project founder overseeing the initiative for the Institute for Renewable Energy and the Environment.
Elde said the Mascoma project is essential for Minnesota to remain a pioneer in biotechnology, and to develop the next generation of non-food source biofuels. There is an abundant “waste stream energy content” available from the paper mills, said Elde.
“It is important for this kind of technology to be born here in Minnesota, because 10 years from now every state will make cellulosic ethanol from something they will grow,” he added. “Whenever a medical device or pacemaker is sold, it leads back to Minnesota where the industry was born, and we need to play the same role with biofuels in Minnesota.”
The Institute looks for projects that develop alternative methods of biocatalysis, biorefining, and fermentation of renewable sources to both end dependence on fossil fuels and move beyond using food source fuels from fertile lands to non-food sources on marginal lands.
Lee Lynd, Mascoma co-founder and chief technology officer and professor of environmental engineering design and biology at Dartmouth, developed the method of processing wet mill sludge through a fermentation process.
Though others have already succeeded in converting mill sludge into ethanol, Elde said these methods required unrecoverable heat energy that made the process inefficient and cost prohibitive to break down carbon-5 and carbon-6 sugar polymers.
Mascoma created a “one-step process” that is efficient, economical and environmentally friendly, he added. The process begins when cellulosic sludge is stirred into sealed, stainless steel vats with temperature controls. Mascoma developed enzymes and microbes that break down the polymers chemically. The gasification process follows with syngas produced to reacts with a catalyst and produce alcohols including ethanol.
“It is a shortcut to making cellulosic ethanol,” said Elde. “This could be a significant industry and that is why Mascoma is interested.”
Minnesota is one of the only paper mill states to have both significant forest industries and existing corn ethanol plants, said Elde. It is more efficient to have ethanol partially distilled at the mills, and then complete the distillation process to higher grade fuels at corn ethanol plants. It is cost effective when the plants exist in the state, he added.
After project partners visited all the Minnesota paper mills, they found that Boise and the Sappi paper mill in Cloquet were the only two that processed the sludge to the point where Mascoma could skip the initial processes to convert the sludge economically.
“Mascoma is very interested in being the first in the world to show the feasibility of this core process,” said Elde.
Elde said his scientists and students research the “wrinkles” in the technology to help increase the volume of ethanol at the mills. His department can also demonstrate the value of the project to the Minnesota Legislature and to relevant state agencies to acquire necessary funding for the project.
“The energy content in other matter is there and it is being smart to harness that energy,” he added. “The status at the moment necessitates a serious exploration and we need the state agencies to help make this happen.”
Elde said that if the project is going to succeed, it will be know by the end of summer.
Minnesota Sen. Tom Saxhaug and Rep. Tom Anzelc both reportedly expressed support for the project last spring.
The IREE is working with state agencies with interest in the project that include the Department of Employment and Economic Development, the Department of Agriculture and the DNR Government Forestry Sub Cabinet.
“The State is engaged with Mascoma regarding potential plans to establish cellulosic ethanol operations in Minnesota,” Kirsten Morell, communications director of DEED. “This is an exciting opportunity and we are hopeful that we will come to a mutual agreement.”
Morell added that it is DEED policy not to comment on the specifics of discussions in progress.
