Lignocellulosic Flocculation

About

Lignocellulosic materials such as wood are renewable and sustainable alternative resources for the production of fuels and plastics. Accelerated industrial development around the globe has resulted in strong demand for petroleum as a fuel and also as a source for plastics and chemicals. Lignocellulosic feedstocks present an alternative to alleviate some of this pressure on petroleum resources in a particularly sustainable way. They present a significantly carbon neutral solution since biomass sequesters atmospheric carbon during its growth phase which is released during its combustion. Moreover, lignocellulosics present a source of fuels such as ethanol relieving the stress on corn, grain and such agricultural food sources. Societal awareness of such positive environmental benefits in addition to its obvious economic advantages has made the development and implementation of biobased energy from lignocellulosics imperative. Biomass processing is expected to occur in large biorefineries manufacturing a spectrum of fuel, chemical and material products in a scale efficient manner. The current invention developed by researchers at SUNY College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry is the flocculation of lignocelluosic hydrolyztes that can be used to improve the separation of lignin and accelerate filtration and sedimentation by conducting flocculation in a controlled manner with respect to time, floc size/floc tenacity, and persistence/resistance to applied mechanical stresses. The method is simple and effective and will allow companies to add value to their current production with nominal capital investment. SUNY-ESF-1964