FP1 Athens GR

Functional Prototype 1 (FP1): Capture and Utilisation of CO2 from a biofuels biorefinery that include biomass combustion, ethanolic fermentation and anaerobic digestion via autotrophic algae growth

This prototype aims to valorise the carbon dioxide produced from three separate streams of an integrated biorefinery. This biorefinery constructed in the framework of Life CircforBio, is situated in NTUA’s Lavrion Culture and Technological Park (LCTP), Attica, Greece and treats several types of biowaste such as source separated food waste, brewery spent grains, spent coffee grounds, potato processing industry waste, orange juice industry waste etc. It has a daily capacity of 1tn wet feedstock. The main products are oil (raw material for biodiesel), bioethanol, biogas and digestate. The pilot includes the following process units: drying, oil extraction, ethanol production unit and anaerobic digestion.

  • PLACE Athens, Greece
  • RESPONSIBLE NTUA
  • PARTNERS ALGEN
  • PRODUCTION LINE Ethanol fermentation, Biodiesel production, Anaerobic digestion
  • BIOGENIC GAS CO2
  • END-PRODUCT Bioethanol, Biodiesel, Biomass
  • CAPACITY 2000 L/day
  • TECHNOLOGIES Enzymatic capture of CO2, autotropic algae cultivation

Within this project, the valorization of the biogenic CO2 produced during the drying process where a biomass burner is used, ethanolic fermentation and anaerobic digestion will be targeted. In line with the results of WP4, the functional prototype 1 will be designed, including the following 3 main stages:

– Efficient dissolution of gaseous CO2 into aqueous solution, ensuring adequate transfer of CO2 from the gas phase to the aqueous phase by enzymatic CO2 capture in the bed reactor.

– Cultivation of algae on the derived solution. A raceway pond with area of 100m2, with a 10 m2 inoculation pond will be included. The produced algae will be harvested by sedimentation as a low-cost harvesting method. A daily production of 1-2 kg of algal biomass is anticipated.

– Valorisation of the produced algal biomass in the existing biorefinery aiming to maximise biofuels production and resource utilization and extraction. Additionally produced algal biomass will be used for the extraction of Carbonic anhydrase enzymes and embed them in a functional gel.