BIOMASS FOR CHEMICALS: AN ASSESSMENT OF EUROPEAN BIOMASS RESOURCES FOR FURFURAL AND HYDROXYMETHYL FURFURAL PRODUCTION

In the context of the ecoLASTANE project, European biomass resources were assessed regarding their suitability for the industrial production of furfural (FF) and hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF). An initial set of seven parameters (availability, market price, structural composition (cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin etc), seasonal availability, initial physical state, degradation during storage and added value of competitive uses) was used for the pre-selection of twelve biomass types, among fifty two, which were initially examined. These twelve biomasses were further investigated, regarding their pretreatment, cellulose and hemicellulose content, remaining matter (lignin, ash, others), moisture, particle size after milling and rheological behavior of aqueous dispersions. European furfural demand requires a minor fraction of biomass potential, restricting the importance of availability and increasing the importance of cost. For the usual furfural prices, economic feasibility dictates biomass costs below 60 _/ tn, restricting suitable materials to sawmill residues, tree prunings and lignocellulosic food industry residues. On the other hand, for the highest recorded furfural price levels, the widely available agricultural residues and potentially energy crops can also be used, although especially straws suffer highly viscous rheological properties. Overall, industrial wood residues are the most competitive in terms of cost and composition despite the comparatively low availability.