With NIR to tailored bio-based materials: A new approach for hydrothermal biomass conversion

ec2622399e — HTC process liquid (left) and HTC-char (right) (Photo: Fh-ICT)

Scientists at the Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering in Potsdam and at the Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology ICT in Pfinztal could demonstrate that the use of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy for hydrothermal conversion processes of biomass offer an effective approach for the targeted production of various valuable substances. By means of the NIR substances produced during the process can be quickly identified in a robust and inexpensive manner. Thus, the basis is created to target conversion processes specifically and energy efficiently to the desired substances, while the formation of pollutants is prevented or reduced. Results will soon be published in the scientific journal “Bioresource Technology”.

e07a403e30 — Set up of the NIR spectroscopic analysis of HTC-products in diffuse reflection. The measuring head (not shown) is connected via optical fiber to the NIR spectrometer. A measurement takes less than one second. (Photo: Fh-ICT)

(Full text in German only)

Source:
M. Toufiq Reza, Wolfgang Becker, Kerstin Sachsenheimer, Jan Mumme: Hydrothermal Carbonization (HTC): Near infrared spectroscopy and partial least-Squares regression for determination of selective components in HTC solid and liquid2h products derived from maize silage. Bioresource Technology 2014, DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.03.008

Contact ATB
Dr. Jan Mumme – Head of the research group APECS

Contact ICT

Dr. Wolfgang Becker – Group leader Material and process analysis
Fraunhofer Institut für Chemische Technologie (Fh-ICT)

Presse Release (in German) PDF