Life Cycle Perspectives of Using Non-Pelleted vs. Pelleted Corn Stover in a Cellulosic Biorefinery

Nurun Nahar, Ramsharan Pandey, Ghasideh Pourhashem, David Ripplinger and Scott W. Pryor
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Nurun Nahar: Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108, USA
Ramsharan Pandey: Department of Coatings and Polymeric Materials, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108, USA
Ghasideh Pourhashem: Department of Coatings and Polymeric Materials, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108, USA
David Ripplinger: Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108, USA
Scott W. Pryor: Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108, USA

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 9, 1-14

Abstract: Cellulosic biorefineries have attracted interest due to the growing energy security and environmental concerns related to fossil fuel-based energy and chemicals. Using pelleted biomass as a biorefinery feedstock can reduce their processing inputs while improving biomass handling and transportation. However, it is still questionable whether energy and emission savings from feedstock transportation and processing can justify pelletization. A life cycle assessment approach was used to compare energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from pelleted and non-pelleted corn stover as a biorefinery feedstock. Operations considered were pelleting, transportation, and soaking in aqueous ammonia (SAA) pretreatment. Despite greater GHG emissions (up to 25 times higher than the transportation) generated from the pelleting process, the model showed a significant opportunity to offset and even reduce overall GHG emissions considering the pretreatment process benefits. Our process energy analysis showed that SAA pretreatment of pelleted biomass required significantly lower energy inputs (56%) due to the lower-severity pretreatment’s effectiveness. Higher pretreatment solid loadings are allowed when pelleted biomass is used and this reduces the process chemicals and water requirements by 56% and 49%, respectively. This study demonstrated that the SAA pretreatment of pelleted biomass might be a feasible option as the cellulosic biorefinery feedstock.

Keywords: corn stover; cellulosic biomass; biorefinery; densification; pelleting; soaking in aqueous ammonia pretreatment; solid loadings; greenhouse gas (GHG); life cycle analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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