ScanBalt Campus - Environmental Biotechnology

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ScanBalt Campus - Environmental Biotechnology

• A proposal for a SBC Knowledge Centre with its
  node at GMV, and in cooperation with interested
  partners within ScanBalt Campus
• The scientific basis (in Göteborg)
• The intersection between Chalmers Environmental
  Initiative (CEI) and Chalmers Bioscience
  Initiative (CBI) (both initiatives involves
  Göteborg University)

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ScanBalt Campus - Environmental Biotechnology

• Scientific focus
• Production of bio-fuel for the transport sector
  based on residues (or products) from forestry and
  agriculture
• Key activities (in Göteborg)
• Gasification Hans Theliander (CEI)
• Fermentation Lena Gustafsson (CBI)
• Enzymatic treatment Gunnar Bjursell (CBI)
• Global energy scenarios Christian Azar (CEI)
• Life cycle assessments Anne-Marie Tillman (CEI)

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Chalmers Environmental Initiative

• 100 MSEK investment, Chalmers foundation
• 7 new professors
• 4 (12) senior scientists
• 8 (20) PhD students
• 200 MSEK external funding

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Rolf Wolff1 June 2000
Rolf Wolff
Anne-Marie Tillman
Hans Theliander
Björn Malbert
Christian Azar
Filip Johnsson
Donal Murtagh
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(No Transcript)
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Division of Forest Products and Chemical
Engineering Green Chemistry (Prof. Hans
Theliander, Dr. Harald Brelid, Dr. Tobias
Richards, Dr. Peter Sedin)
An important goal Go from a oil-based society to
a bio-based society
hanst_at_chalmers.se
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Three areas of great interest

• Extraction of lignin from black liquor (kraft
  paper pulp process)
• Ethanol production separation of lignin from
  process streams
• Gasification of biomaterial

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Extraction of lignin from black
liquorCooperation between Chalmers and
STFI-Packforsk
Bleached pulp
Pulp bleaching
Pulp digester
Pulp wash
Black liquor evaporation
To the recovery boiler
Wood
White liquor
Lignin extraction to be published Oct. 2005
Lignin with low ash content
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Beanch scale tests
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Pilot trails
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Example of results

• Ash content 0.1 0.5
• Dry content 65-70

Next step

• Improve the quality of the lignin
• E.g. remove sulfur

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CHALMERS
BIOCENTER
www.chalmers.se/biocenter
Biophysical Chemistry Bioinformatics CHALMERS
BIOSCIENCE INITIATIVE Biological Signaling,
Recognition, and Communication Bioimaging M
olceular Biotechnology
15 professors 4 key areas 1 common focus
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CHALMERS
BIOCENTER
www.chalmers.se/biocenter
CHALMERS STRENGTHS
Chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer science
(computations, modelling) Bioimaging (microscopy,
spectroscopy) Biomaterials (incl. tissue
engineering) Bioelectronics microanalytical
chemistry Structural biology (NMR,
crystallography, spectroscopy) Cell and molecular
biology/microbiology
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CHALMERS
BIOCENTER
www.chalmers.se/biocenter
ENVIRONMENTAL BIOTECHNOLOGY

• An idea for a network collaboration involving
• Researchers at CEI, CBI, and GU
• ScanBalt Campus partners
• Diversa Corporation (industrial enzymes)
• Nordic Paper and Pulp industry (Södra cell, SCA,
  Stora Enso)
• Chemical and Pharmaceutical industry (Akzo Nobel,
  AstraZeneca, Borealis, Eka Chemicals, etc.)
• Food industry (to be identified)
• The Swedish Farmers Supply and Crop
  Marketing Association (Lantmännen)
• Other interested parties

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CHALMERS
BIOCENTER
www.chalmers.se/biocenter
ENVIRONMENTAL BIOTECHNOLOGY

• Potential research projects
• Modification of surface properties of cellulose
  fibers (paper, hygien products, etc.)
• Bio-fuel ethanol, DME
• Enzyme catalyzed sulphur removal from lignin
• Biogasification

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CHALMERS
BIOCENTER
www.chalmers.se/biocenter
ENVIRONMENTAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
Tentative time plan (2005) Summer Contact is made
with potential partners Aug/Sept First (planning)
meeting, inventory of EU platforms
November Inspirational meeting/mini-conference D
ecember Application to Swedish research councils
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Environmental Biotechnology and the partners of
ScanBalt Campus

• Öresund Environmental Academy (Dk/Se) has in
  cooperation with ScanBalt launched a project
  involving several central actors within the field
  of bio-fuels, in specific bio-ethanol, all
  located in Baltic and Öresund region.
• Aalborg University (Dk) has through the research
  group ACABS a dedicated RD commitment to the
  fields of applied biotechnology, bio-energy and
  bio-fuels (e.g. biogas).
• Technical University of Denmark (Dk) has through
  the research group EMAB (Environmental
  Microbiology and Biotechnology) a specific
  RD-project dealing with Optimisation of
  biological processes applied to bio-ethanol
  production.

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Environmental Biotechnology and the partners of
ScanBalt Campus

• Turku BioValley Ltd (Fi) is a network of several
  bioscience actors all located in Turku. The
  accumulated competence covers drugs, diagnostics,
  functional food, biomaterials and bioprocesses.
• Helsinki University of Technology (Fi) is
  involved in research projects touching both
  bio-energy applications in general and bio-fuels.
• Aabo Akademi University (Fi) has a great deal of
  research associated with the development of new,
  cleaner and more efficient combustion
  technologies such as pressurized fluidized bed
  combustion, integrated gasification
  combined-cycle process and energy generation of
  black liquor.

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Environmental Biotechnology and the partners of
ScanBalt Campus

• VTT Biotechnology/VTT Energy (Fi) research
  activities cover the whole bio-energy chain, from
  harvesting and handling of bio-based fuels to
  energy conversion technologies and end-use.
• University of Oulo (Fi) has a dedicated research
  lab focused on bioprocess engineering and various
  bioscience applications. Research is conducted in
  the areas such as bio products, bioprocesses and
  diagnostic tests for medical, pharmaceutical,
  environmental and industrial applications.
• BioCon Valley (De) gathers a vast number of
  researchers, institutes and business located in
  the north of Germany, all working on modern
  applications of biotechnology ranging from
  medicine, plants and animal breeding to
  environmental technology.

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Environmental Biotechnology and the partners of
ScanBalt Campus

• Göteborg and Chalmers University (Se) have
  several research areas dealing within the fields
  of biotechnology as bio-medicine, bio-energy,
  bio-fuels and bio-ethanol. The research is
  focused on both technological development as well
  as societal aspects including energy system and
  resource theory.
• Lund University (Se) has several research
  projects in the field of bio-energy, bio-fuels
  and bio-ethanol, primarily through the two
  departments of Applied Microbiology and Chemical
  Engineering.
• University of Latvia (Lv) conducts research,
  through the institute of Microbiology and
  Biotechnology, within the field of
  bioengineering, biotechnology of microbial
  biosynthesis and conversion of energy.

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EU technology platforms and bio-fuel

• A series of Technology platforms will be
  launched (25 at the current state). Some of these
  platforms will target bio-fuels in a direct
  manner, whereas others will target environmental
  biotechnologies in general.

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EU technology platforms and bio-fuel

• Plants for the future will focus on a new era
  of plant biotechnology in a wide range of
  plausible applications areas industry,
  agriculture, forestry, educational, financial,
  consumer and environmental organisations.
• Technology platform on Sustainable Chemistry
  will initiate a strategy research agenda in three
  main technology areas Industrial Biotechnology,
  Materials Technology and Research and Design.
  There is a focus on environmental biotechnologies
  in industry applications where they have
  potential of decreasing both water and energy
  use.

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EU technology platforms and bio-fuel

• Innovation and Sustainable Use of Forest
  Resources will strive to ensure its societal
  contribution in the context of bio-based,
  costumer-driven and globally competitive economy.
  Both bio-energy in general and bio-fuels will,
  most certainly, have a vital role in this
  platform. The potential of an increased use of
  renewable forestry-based resources for bio-based
  energy is recognised.
• ERTRAC European Road Transport Research Advisory
  council will focus on some of the key-challenges
  that the European road and transport sector
  faces increased global competitiveness, create
  jobs, security of energy supply, pollution and
  global warming. Environmental technologies are at
  focus and, hence, bio-fuels will have a vital
  role in this platform as well.