Innovative technologies for minimum environmental impact

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A novel biodrying process that has been demonstrated for removing moisture from mixed sludge will now be used to remove moisture from the biomass feedstocks for the Forest Biorefinery. Materials to be tested include forest residuals, triticale and mixtures of these two materials. Both of these materials have a much lower nutrient content when compared to mixed sludge. The mechanisms for nutrient transport will be examined in order to assess how nutrient levels affect biodrying. The specific short-term objectives of this program are (1) to complete 2-dimensional modeling of the novel biodrying reactor, so that the model can be applied for process scale-up and reactor design, (2) to determine the biodrying process conditions that effectively treat forest residuals and triticale, so that constant values of higher dryness levels are achieved, (3) to explore the impact of feedstock pre-treatment on the biodryer efficiency due to modification of the physical form of the feedstocks, so that the process can be assessed for the treatment of different and combined biomass feedstocks, (4) to complete physical and numerical modeling of the biodrying process, including biomass nutrient transport, so that the model can be used to assist in identifying improved biodrying conditions, and (5) to quantify the economic advantages of biodrying for use in the biorefinery processes implemented into existing pulp and paper mills. The longer-term objectives of this program are (1) to communicate the industrial scenarios under which the biodrying process should be incorporated in the biorefinery, such that it would potentially create a competitive advantage for Canadian pulp and paper companies, and (2) to explore the potential for testing of this biodrying process at the demonstration scale, ideally in conjunction with a project related to the implementation of a biorefinery process. It is expected that the program will result in a novel but practical biodrying technology, which may be the key to economic viability for several biorefinery processes.