A strategy towards enhanced bio-energy production from cane biomass MSIRI April 2006 LJC Autrey KTKF Kong Win Chang AF Lau

Land area (Thousand hectares) Roadmap 2015

PART I Bio-energy potential based on current technologies and cane varieties Bio-energy potential based on current technologies and cane varieties

Electricity

Electricity output in Mauritius (GWh) Island Sugar Industry Bag 301 Coal

Electricity output in Mauritius (GWh) Island Sugar Industry Savannah 2 x 42 MW in 2007 Bag 301 Coal 534 Assumption: 5.5 million tonnes cane 130 kWh/t cane 65% total by coal Bag 400 Coal 740 Bag 465 Coal / Savannah 3 x 42 MW in 2008

Savannah power plant under construction 2 x 42 MW in x 42 MW in 2008

Electricity output in Mauritius (GWh) Island Sugar Industry F.U.E.L Bag 301 Coal 534 Bag 400 Coal 740 Bag 465 Coal Bag 600 Coal 1120 Assumption: 5.5 million tonnes cane 130 kWh/t cane 65% total by coal

Electricity output in Mauritius (GWh) Island Sugar Industry Medine Bag 301 Coal 534 Bag 400 Coal 740 Bag 465 Coal Bag 700 Coal 1300 Assumption: 5.5 million tonnes cane 130 kWh/t cane 65% total by coal Bag 600 Coal 1120

Factory no. 82 bar boiler Projected electricity export from bagasse (kWh/t cane) The potential that will be exploited between 2007 & 2012 ? Belle Vue Target by 2012 A minimum of 130 kWh/t cane 4 co-generation plants instead of 10

Projected electricity export from bagasse (GWh) In spite of a reduction of land area for cane cultivation, electricity production will rise to 700 GWh using current technologies and existing cane varieties

Ethanol

Ethanol is currently produced with molasses Maximum tonnes Blending with gasoline to start soon Alcodis Mauritius

PART II Strategic Research to Enhance Bio-energy potential N ew T echnologies & N ew C ane V arieties Strategic Research to Enhance Bio-energy potential N ew T echnologies & N ew C ane V arieties

Strategic Research in Mauritius To enhance bio-energy production Strategic Research in Mauritius To enhance bio-energy production 1. Breeding for more biomass 2. Collecting maximum trash from the fields 3. Ethanol from bagasse 4. Bagasse gasification technologies 1. Breeding for more biomass 2. Collecting maximum trash from the fields 3. Ethanol from bagasse 4. Bagasse gasification technologies

1. Breeding for more biomass 1. Breeding for more biomass Strategic Research in Mauritius To enhance bio- energy production

Intensification of interspecific programme with available wild species in germplasm collection for: Evaluation of Interspecific crosses 1980’s 1.Genetic base-broadening 2.Windfall gain for enhancement of fibre 1.Genetic base-broadening 2.Windfall gain for enhancement of fibre

470 (F1, BC1, BC2) new parent varieties available in collection for high fibre cane 1990’s

Evaluation of 65 promising parent varieties (interspecific derived) in the collection for biomass, fibre and pol

What cane variety for bio-energy ? Different Scenarii Breeding for more biomass in Mauritius New variety development initiative to meet future challenges 40 S. Spontaneum clones imported from Barbados in 2004 released from quarantine in 2006

M 1672/90 A new promising variety with enhanced fibre content M 1672/90 A new promising variety with enhanced fibre content

What cane variety for bio-energy ? Current variety Fibre % Sugar Bagasse for electricity & ethanol High quality Pol % More Sugar More bagasse for electricity & ethanol High fibre Fibre % Less Sugar Much more bagasse for electricity & ethanol Energy cane Fibre > 30 % Small amount of sugar for ethanol/rum Much more bagasse for electricity & ethanol Different Scenarii High fibre Fibre % Less Sugar Much more bagasse for electricity & ethanol Current variety Fibre 10 – 12 % Sugar Bagasse for electricity & ethanol High quality Pol % More Sugar More bagasse for electricity & ethanol

High quality cane Barbados Bx % CP % CF % C WI WI MauritiusM52/ Barbados

High quality cane tested in Mauritius Promising varieties from Barbados Brix % Juice WI WI Field Barbados Glasshouse Mauritius WI WI

Energy Content (ktoe) All sugar into ethanol Normal High quality High fibre Energy cane Ethanol Million tonnes CO 2 offset M1672/ Bagasse

2. Maximize trash recovery from the fields 2. Maximize trash recovery from the fields Strategic Research in Mauritius To enhance bio-energy production Strategic Research in Mauritius To enhance bio-energy production

Impact of fibre on electricity export kWh/t cane Fibre % Cane Boiler 82 bar 525 o C  = 11 kWh/t cane Trash recovery increases fibre content in cane

Method of trash recovery – The DCCP concept Sugar Cane + Maximum Trash sent to factory DCCP Chopped Trash Clean Cane Factory Bagasse Quality Sugar

World bank and GEF funded research on DCCP or trash recovery system A commercial system to be installed at Savannah World bank and GEF funded research on DCCP or trash recovery system A commercial system to be installed at Savannah Source: Union St Aubin

Additional trash (offset coal) Assuming tonnes recovered – Conventional steam cycle % bag 65 % coal

Cellulases and hemicellulases produced by micro-organisms to hydrolyse hemicellulose and cellulose Strategic Research in Mauritius To enhance bio-energy production 3. Ethanol from bagasse

Ethanol and Bioplastic from Bagasse 1. Lignin removal from bagasse Lignin 19.6 Ash 6.3 Hemicellulose 28.4 Cellulose 40.6 Sugar Convert hemicellulose and cellulose into simple sugars 3 Steps 3. Convert simple sugars into ethanol and bioplastic

Lignin Amorphous polymer 2 nd most abundant biopolymer in nature Binds hemicellulose/cellulose It gives rigidity to plants Lignin can be used as fuel Can be converted into dispersing agents and additives

Hemicellulose Low calorific sugar Hydrolysis Furfural Ethanol Xylose Hemicellulose H H O O H H OH HO H H OH H H CH 2 OH

Most abundant biopolymer in nature Used as pulp/paper and clothing Cellulose is hydrolyzed by acids and enzymes to produce glucose Glucose can be fermented into ethanol Cellulose

Removal of lignin Two method were used on bagasse:- 1. Sodium hydroxide 2. Potassium hydroxide 1. Sodium hydroxide 2. Potassium hydroxide Preliminary conclusions:- Potassium hydroxide costs three times as much as sodium hydroxide but it has a major advantage: It can be recovered as potassium nitrate by the addition of nitric acid, and thus can be used as fertilizer Preliminary conclusions:- Potassium hydroxide costs three times as much as sodium hydroxide but it has a major advantage: It can be recovered as potassium nitrate by the addition of nitric acid, and thus can be used as fertilizer

Method 1 – Enzymatic hydrolysis Cellulases and hemicellulases produced by micro-organisms to hydrolyse hemicellulose and cellulose Preliminary results:- At present stage the efficiency is around %. Hence, we are currently optimizing the enzymatic hydrolysis process. Hydrolysis of hemicellulose and cellulose into simple sugars

Method 2 – Acid hydrolysis Preliminary results:- Presence of reducing sugars. Preliminary results:- Presence of reducing sugars. Picture shows newly acquired reactor. Some tests on pre-treated bagasse were carried out at 200 o C. Hydrolysis of hemicellulose and cellulose into simple sugars

Strategic Research in Mauritius To enhance bio-energy production Strategic Research in Mauritius To enhance bio-energy production 4. Bagasse gasification technologies

Steam cycle GWh Potential electricity export with bagasse as fuel Comparing conventional steam cycle with BIG-CC Current varieties 700 BIG-CC GWh High quality cane High fibre cane Energy cane M1672/ Projected island electricity demand in 2015  3000 GWh

Bagasse gasification technologies To enhance bio-energy production Bagasse gasification technologies To enhance bio-energy production The MSIRI is seeking collaboration with a strategic partner to re-start bagasse gasification project. The ISSCT is setting up an International Sugarcane Biomass Utilization Consortium (ISBUC). The launching is planned for 11 July 2006 in Durban. The mode of functioning will be on the same line as the International Consortium for Sugarcane Biotechnology (ICSB). Bagasse gasification technologies will probably be one of the key issues that will be addressed.

Final Target To make bio-refinery concept a reality

Cane biomass Effluents from bioplastics Biotechnology tools Solar energy Biofertilizers co 2 Value-added molecules Cane and trash Biofertilizers Vinasse Ethanol distillery Ethanol Liquors, etc. Cane juice Molasses Steam & electricity co 2 Sugar factory Sugar exports Cogen plants Bagasse and trash Steam & electricity Sugar Food products co 2 Leaves & trash Solvents Bioplastic factory Steam and electricity co 2 Sugar Bioplastics Effluents The bio-refinery concept

Back to Earth In Mauritius, currently the revenue from bio- energy is still low compared to sugar Photosource:

Sugar Electricity Ethanol 17.7% US $ 560/tonne 100% US$ 350/tonne Current revenue from sugar and by-products ASSUMPTIONS 1 tonne sugar = MUR 16,900 1 tonne 10% IRSC = 100 kg = MUR 1690 MUR 1.75 kWh = MUR USD / litre = MUR 97

Dancing naked in the mind field Dr Kary Mullis “ There is a very important rule in evolution. Don’t trouble yourself with details that do not matter for survival. Who ever can do something more efficiently, survives.” Page 157

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