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1 Electronic Press Kit English In our electronic Press Kit you will find further information on bioliq process technology KIT University of the state of Baden-Württemberg and National Research Center of the Helmholtz-Association

2 Press Release No. 080 lg May 18, 2011 Designer Fuel from Straw bioliq Celebrates Topping-out Ceremony for the Complete Process Chain Maximum Compatibility of the End Product with the Engine Is the Goal KIT Energy Center: Having future in mind Monika Landgraf Press Officer bioliq is being completed: The building shell will accommodate stages II to IV on the way towards the final product. (Photo: Markus Breig) Completion of the bioliq pilot plant on Campus North of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is advancing with large steps. Today, KIT celebrated the topping-out ceremony for the remaining process stages of the plant together with representatives of the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Consumer Protection, the State of Baden-Württemberg, and the industry partners involved. The process developed by KIT serves to produce high-quality and engine-compatible designer fuels for diesel and Otto engines from biogenous residues, such as straw. In early 2013, the plant will take up operation. Kaiserstraße Karlsruhe, Germany Phone: Fax: Introduction of biofuel is an important step towards the use of renewable resources for mobility, emphasized KIT Vice President Dr. Peter Fritz during the ceremony. However, emissions of the greenhouse gas of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) can only be reduced significantly by biofuels of the second generation. For this reason, bioliq is based on straw and other biogenous residues. The advantage: These residues are not used as foodstuff or feedstuff and they do not require any additional cultivation area. Construction of the bioliq pilot plant will cost about EUR 60 million. The Federal Republic of Germany and the federal state of Baden-Württemberg provide funding in the total amount of about EUR 26 million for construction. Industry partners bear about 20% of the investment costs. Page 1 / 3 KIT University of the State of Baden-Wuerttemberg and National Research Center of the Helmholtz Association

3 Press Release No. 080 lg May 18, 2011 Peter Bleser, Parliamentary State Secretary of the Federal Minister of Food, Agriculture, and Consumer Protection, was highly impressed by the achievements of KIT and its industry partners. The Federal Government is pinning big hopes in the bioliq concept developed here. With this process, synthetic biofuels can be produced for diesel and Otto engines. Use in passenger cars, trucks, and ship engines as well as aircraft engines is feasible. These fuels are combusted in a clean manner. High area yields can be made use of and a wide variety of suitable feedstocks, including organic residues, is available. If these potentials can be opened up in practice, BtL fuels can contribute decisively to the reorganization of energy supply, said Bleser. The complete bioliq process consists of four stages. The first stage of the process serves to densify energy, as the dry residual biomass is distributed over wide areas and has a low energy content. At decentralized plants, straw and other biogenous residues are converted into a petroleum-similar intermediate product of coke and oil by flash pyrolysis. This so-called bioliqsyncrude contains about 90% of the energy stored in the biomass its energy density is more than ten times as high as that of the feedstock. The pilot plant of this first process stage has already been completed and operated on KIT Campus North since The energy-rich intermediate product can be transported in an economically efficient manner over large distances. To produce highquality and highly pure synthesis fuel, another three process stages are required. The building shell for these stages has now been completed on KIT Campus North. From bioliqsyncrude to Designer Fuel In the next stage, the energy-rich intermediate product is converted into synthesis gas, a chemically reactive mixture of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H 2 ). In the course of this process, the bioliqsyncrude is mixed with oxygen and decomposed into the basic elements of synthesis fuels under pressure and at temperatures above 1000 C. During subsequent hot-gas cleaning, impurities, such as particles, chlorine, and nitrogen compounds are separated from the synthesis gas. At KIT, a new technology will be used. Cleaning will take place at 500 C, as a result of which energy consumption will be reduced compared to conventional processes. Page 2 / 3

4 Press Release No. 080 lg May 18, 2011 A new approach is also pursued by KIT in the final process stage. The basic elements are combined specifically in tailored designer fuels. Depending on the synthesis path, either diesel or gasoline can be generated. It is aimed at supplying highly engine-compatible fuel. The constant composition of the products of high quality required is reached by adjusting the synthesis conditions, says KIT Vice President Dr. Peter Fritz. Cooperation partners for the different bioliq process stages are Lurgi GmbH, Frankfurt, MUT Advanced Heating GmbH for gas cleaning, and Chemieanlagenbau Chemnitz GmbH. Further information on bioliq can be obtained at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is one of Europe s leading energy research establishments. The KIT Energy Center pools fundamental research with applied research into all relevant energy sources for industry, households, services, and mobility. Holistic assessment of the energy cycle also covers conversion processes and energy efficiency. The KIT Energy Center links competences in engineering and science with know-how in economics, the humanities, and social science as well as law. The activities of the KIT Energy Center are organized in seven topics: Energy conversion, renewable energies, energy storage and distribution, efficient energy use, fusion technology, nuclear power and safety, and energy systems analysis. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is a public corporation according to the legislation of the state of Baden-Württemberg. It fulfills the mission of a university and the mission of a national research center of the Helmholtz Association. KIT focuses on a knowledge triangle that links the tasks of research, teaching, and innovation. This press release is available on the internet at The photo of printing quality may be downloaded under or requested by mail to presse@kit.edu or phone The photo may be used in the context mentioned above exclusively. Page 3 / 3

5 biomass ashes that are produced during gasification. The process is performed at pressures that are determined by the subsequent synthesis. There is no need for complex gas compression procedures. While FischerTropsch syntheses require process pressures of up to 30 bar, methanol or dimethyl ether (DME) syntheses are carried out at up to 80 bar. The bioliq pilot gasifier is designed for 5 MW (1t/h) and two pressure stages of 40 and 80 bar. 4. Gas Cleaning and Gas Conditioning Cleaning of raw synthesis gases: Particles, alkaline salts, H2S, COS, CS2, HCl, NH3, and HCN are removed to avoid catalyst poisoning during fuel synthesis. The pilot plant is equipped with an innovative hot-gas cleaning system for particle filtration, pollutant decomposition and adsorption at 500 C. The Karlsruhe bioliq Process We gratefully acknowledge financial and other support by the Ministry for Food and Rural Affairs of the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg and would like to express our thanks to the European Commission for funding the EU project Renew. Research into and Development of 2nd-Generation Biofuels from Dry Residual Biomass Institute for Technical Chemistry 5. Fuel Synthesis Synthesized fuels are state of the art: Fischer-Tropsch, methanol and dimethyl ether syntheses are well-established methods by means of which several million tons of fuel are produced annually from black coal. Novel catalytic methods are available enabling production of large quantities of different kinds of environmentally compatible biofuels. Innovative approaches, for example single-stage DME synthesis prior to fuel synthesis, are implemented at the bioliq pilot plant to reduce the length of processes and achieve a continuous increase in economic efficiency. Contact Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) Institute for Technical Chemistry, Division of Chemical-Physical Processing (ITC-CPV) Campus North Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany Dr. Nicolaus Dahmen bioliq Project Manager Phone: nicolaus.dahmen@kit.edu KIT University of the State of Baden-Wuerttemberg and National Research Center of the Helmholtz Association

6 2 nd -Generation Biofuels as a Contribution to the Energy Mix Fuels from biomass have a great potential: In the short run, they will replace part of our fossil energy sources and will contribute to an efficient mix of renewable energies. Covering a wide range of different fuels such as kerosene, diesel, and gasoline, BTL (biomass-to-liquid) fuels of the second generation offer various advantages over bioethanol or biodiesel. Almost any kind of vegetable biomass material whose origin and needs do not collide with those of plants grown for the food industry can be used for biofuel production. Dry, cellulose-rich residual biomass (straw, residual wood) from agricultural waste, forestry production, and landscaping is particularly suited. Fuel Legislation, Sustainability, and Certification Fossil fuels are the basis of today s energy supply but are becoming scarce over the long term. Their scarcity is giving new political and economic impulses to finding solutions to a sustainable renewable energy supply. The EU biofuel regulations, for instance, have demanded an increase in the share of biofuels in overall consumption from 2 percent in 2005 to 5.75 percent in In addition, it is stipulated that greenhouse emissions in the industrial countries be reduced by at least 20 percent by Biofuels of the second generation are capable of reducing carbon dioxide emissions. EU subsidies will be granted in the future only for biofuels produced on the basis of sustainable biomass cultivation. This applies to electric power from biomass (reimbursement in accordance with the Renewable Energy Law) and to biofuels which in Germany are credited against the biofuel ratio or are eligible for relief. Proofs of sustainability must be provided by acknowledged certification authorities. The Karlsruhe bioliq Process The bioliq pilot plant under construction will cover the process chain required for producing customized fuels from residual biomass. Being mainly synthesized from dry straw or wood, the BTL fuels offer environmental and climatic benefits through clean combustion. The integrative process chain, moreover, enables production of synthesis gas and chemicals. bioliq intends to mainly convert large local quantities of residual biomass by densifying energy. To save carbon dioxide and reduce routes of transport to refineries, the Karlsruhe BTL concept combines decentralized production of energyrich bioliqsyncrude by means of rapid pyrolysis and central processing with final industrial-scale refinement. Since the energy density of bioliqsyncrude is by more than one order of magnitude higher relative to the volume of dry straw, it is evident that the method s efficiency is enhanced by decentralized energy densification and that such densification ensures that biomass can be fully exploited and put to use in substance and in energy. BTL fuel production and refinement consist of five major process steps: 1. Rapid Pyrolysis The dry, comminuted biomass is mixed with hot sand at ambient pressure in the absence of air in a twin-screw mixing reactor. Pyrolytic conversion of the biomass particles at approximately 500 C, and condensation of the pyrolysis vapors take a few seconds only. Depending on the operating conditions and on the biomass selected, one obtains percent Advantages of BTL Fuels over Conventional Fuels Reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. Saving of fossil fuels. Independence of energy imports to some extent. Strengthening of regional agriculture. Wide range of raw materials. No competition for land with food production. Infrastructures: Filling stations and routes of distribution can continue to be used. Fuels ( designer fuels ) can be tailored to the needs of different types of engines. Covering of a large variety of fuel types. of liquid pyrolysis oil and percent of pyrolysis char as well as a fraction of non-condensable pyrolysis gas whose combustion heat can be used for heating or drying. In the pilot plant, 500 kg/h (2 megawatts) of biomass are converted by rapid pyrolysis into bioliqsyncrude. 2. Energy Densification: Production of bioliqsyncrude Pyrolysis char and pyrolysis oil are mixed to obtain a slurry (bioliqsyncrude ). The rapid and efficient conversion of the mixture during gasification essentially depends on the size distribution of the coke particles. Rapid pyrolysis enables a pyrolysis condensates / pyrolysis char mixing ratio that is ideal for the slurry and contributes to optimizing product yields. 3. Entrained-flow Gasification The bioliqsyncrude is atomized with hot oxygen in an entrained-flow gasifier and is converted at above 1200 C into a tar-free, low-methane raw synthesis gas. The gasifier used is particularly suited for the high amounts of

7 Institute for Technical Chemistry Division of Chemical-Physical Processing The Karlsruhe bioliq Process Integrated Processes to Produce Synthetic Fuels and Bulk Chemical Products from Dry Residual Biomass Description Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is studying various thermochemical processes for production of chemical energy carriers from biomass. The Karlsruhe bioliq process has been developed to convert so far largely unused residual biomass into tailored synthetic fuels in a pilot plant. These BTL (biomass to liquid) fuels are synthesized mainly from dry, biogenous residues, such as cereal straw or residual wood from agriculture and forestry. The integrated process chain does not only allow for the production of biofuels, but also of industry-relevant basic products, such as synthesis gas and bulk chemicals. In the future, the biofuels produced will replace part of the petroleum-based fuels. In addition, they have numerous environmentally and climate-relevant advantages that result from clean combustion and the use of the renewable carbon feedstock biomass. Economic Efficiency and Less CO 2 by Energy Concentration As biomass arises in a regionally distributed manner, it mostly has to be collected on large areas and transported to processing over long distances. To reduce CO 2 and long transport paths, the Karlsruhe BTL concept combines a decentralized production of an energy-rich intermediate product from biomass with its central processing to an end product on the industrial scale. Regionally arising biomass is subjected directly to flash pyrolysis. An easily transportable, energy-rich bioliqsyncrude is produced. It is converted chemically into synthesis gas and further into fuels or bulk chemicals at a central plant. The energy density of the bioliqsyncrude exceeds that of dry straw by more than an order of magnitude. KIT University of the State of Baden-Wuerttemberg and National Research Center of the Helmholtz Association

8 Synthesis gas production at large-scale plants increases the economic efficiency of the process The Five Steps of the bioliq Process 1. Flash pyrolysis: Biomass is converted into pyrolysis oil and pyrolysis char by heating in the absence of air. 2. Energy concentration: The porous pyrolysis char is mixed with the pyrolysis oil to a liquid energy slurry, the bioliq-syncrude. 3. Entrained-flow gasification: The bioliqsyncrude is gasified with oxygen in a high-pressure entrained-flow gasifier and converted into a tar-free, low-methane raw synthesis gas that mainly consists of CO and H Gas cleaning and conditioning: Particles and disturbing trace substances are removed from the raw synthesis gas. 5. Fuel synthesis: The clean synthesis gas is converted into fuel by chemical synthesis. Key Process Features Energy-rich, liquid intermediate product bioliqsyncrude. Large feedstock spectrum due to the use of various types of biomass and unused residual biomass Use of biogenous residues does not compete with food production Decentralized / central bioliq concept allows for the mobilization of large amounts of biomass Regional plants for biomass pretreatment provide further agricultural income sources bioliq enables full utilization of both the substance and the energy of mainly dry biological residues Key Product Features Synthetic fuels are purer, more homogeneous, and environmentally more compatible due to clean combustion Biofuels can be tailored. A wide variety of fuels can be synthesized for various types of engines, e.g. biokerosene Production of high-quality synthesis products by innovative technology results in a high value added Technical Features On its way from straw to bioliqsyncrude, energy is densified by a factor of up to 15 through the bioliq rapid-pyrolysis stage Process energy originates from the biomass used, which results in a high CO 2 reduction potential The liquid, energy-concentrated preliminary product (bioliqsyncrude ) can be processed easily and efficiently on a large technical scale There is no need for complex gas compression procedures prior to production of the synthesis gas Hot-gas cleaning may reduce energy consumption by about 10 % compared to conventional gas cleaning One-stage DME synthesis shortens the process chain and, hence, reduces investment costs Synthesis fuels are purer than petroleumbased fuels. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology Campus North Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany Dr. Nicolaus Dahmen Head of bioliq project Institute for Technical Chemistry Chemical-Physical Processing Phone: nicolaus.dahmen@kit.edu Professor Dr. Eckard Dinjus Institute for Technical Chemistry Chemical-Physical Processing Phone: eckard.dinjus@kit.edu Dr. Rainer Koerber Innovation Management (IMA) Phone: rainer.koerber@kit.edu