Black liquor is a waste product of pulp and paper mills. For every ton of pulp produced, about 7 tons of black liquor by-product results. Finding an economical use for this waste will change the economics of the paper / pulp industry significantly. Dimethyl ether (DME) is one of many valuable products that could be made from pulp wastes.
In Sweden, Chemrec announced that they will break ground in September on a BioDME (dimethyl ether) demonstration plant project in Piteå. The project will be completed in mid-2010, and will demonstrate the production of an advanced diesel fuel, DME, from forest biomass over the black liquor route....
DME is generally used today as a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) substitute, but diesel truck and bus manufacturers have operated DME-fueled prototype vehicles.....Approximately 7 tons of black liquor is produced in the manufacture of a ton of pulp. _BiofuelsDigest
Learning to take a waste product and turn it into energy builds character. It is much harder than printing money on a government printing press, and spending money that doesn't exist. But not all of us can be as smart or wizardly as presidents and congresspersons.
Most DME use is in Japan. A track record exists. It has relatively low BTU/lb, thus the range of the vehicle is reduced. Good emissions characteristics...still need urea injection to meet 2010 NOX standard.
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Interesting prospects, thanks.
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