The project goal is the scientific foundation and the development of some modern technologies for obtaining 2nd and 3rd biofuels generation by superior capitalization of biomass (lignocellulosic wastes and algae) which should represent a reliable alternative to the classics. The proposal is based on:

• the researches conducted in our institute in the fields of biofuels and in superior energetic capitalization of biomass;
• the institute’s infrastructure which allows the developing of laboratory-scale technologies, their testing and the physico-chemical analysis for new types of biofuel;
• the experience of the research team.

Project objetives:

• design and development of new modern technologies for a superior recovery of biomass (lignocellulosic wastes and algae) in order to obtain 2nd and 3rd generation of biofuels and also
• the determination of their applications.
  

In the last hundred years, man has exploited the biomass intensively, especially as its fossil charcoal form, petroleum and gas, leading to a major contribution of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, superior to the possibilities of “lung planet” (plants and trees) to consume it during growth. Therefore the scientists recommend more and more lately, the use of bio-renewable fuels from fresh biomass. Forests, gardens, lawns are large reservoirs of fresh biomass due to the possibility of harvesting trees, plants and generally all materials arising as a result of maintenance operations. In some cases, certain cities can often be the best young biomass tanks due to materials resulting from gardens and parks maintenance. Also, forest’s exploitation and generally the woodworking factories are producing a large quantity of lignocellulosic waste which is classified as vegetable biomass of 2nd generation. The 1st generation biomass is formed from crops as: corn, wheat, sugar beet which is the raw material for liquid fuel known as ethanol or oilseed crops (rapeseed, sunflower, soybean, peanut, palm, cotton, flax, saffron) and has similar properties with classic diesel, known as biodiesel.
An alternative to crops oilseed for obtaining biodiesel is the algae, those representing true plant cell which works only on sunlight and carbon dioxide. The microalgae are considered to be the only source of biodiesel which are able to meet global demand for transport fuels. Similar to plants, microalgae use sunlight to produce oils, but they are doing it more efficiently than crop plants. Oil yield of a wide range of microalgae far exceeds the one of most efficient crops oilseeds.
The 1st biomass generation usage raises some ethical problems due to the planet surface possible usage for obtaining biofuels in detriment of its usage for food cultures, due to the fact that a large number of people still suffer from hunger. Due to these conditions, the most of the developed states have initiated, lately, ample programs for biomass usage in energetically purpose (lignocellulosic wastes and algae) in order to obtain 2nd and 3rd biofuels generation.
Biofuels usage must develop an important increasing, from a value quite low, presently – less then 2% from total fuel – up to a substantial percent from biofuels consumption intended for transportation in Europe. It is estimated that, in order to obtain the necessary biofuels quantity to achieve the 5.75% level from biofuels for transportation, foreseen by 2003/30/EC Norm, between 4 and 18% from the total agricol surface should be dedicated to this purpose. Biofuel and ethanol are the prime liquid biofuels used in transportation. They are part of 1st generation fuels, biodiesel being obtained especially from rape oil in Europe and the renewable ethanol from wheat and sugarbeat. Biodiesel and ethanol are used mainly as gas mixes, respectively gasoline, in quite low proportions. In some countries mixes in which the biofuels are found in higher proportion are used for certain types of vehicles (Flexi Fuel).

The opportunity of the proposal results from:

•  the necessity to use efficiently the energetic resources by improving the renewable sources of energy and also the reduction of the environment pollution, arise from the necessity of integrating in UE structures. The present project comes to fulfill these requirements by: elaborating modern technologies in order to obtain 2nd and 3rd generation biofuels, by capitalizing the ligneous and cellulosic wastes and also by capitalizing the algae; achieving and optimizing the lignocelluloses biomass refinement technologies in order to obtain ethanol; achieving and optimizing the biodiesel obtaining technologies from algae;
• the existence of necessary infrastructure to characterize the biofuels: physico-chemical analysis laboratory accredited in conformity with SR ISO 17025;
• recognized national competence (by involvement in national projects) of the work team members , materialized in the elaboration and the homologation of a modern technology for ecologically Diesel fuel obtained from vegetal oils (rape, soya) and also from the projection and construction of a small capacity plant for ecologically Diesel fuel from unripe/used oils;
• the necessity to include the research programs in PC7 thematic area and similar European technological platforms. This project is enclosed in PC7 program in 5.3 thematic areas “The production of renewable fuels”.
  

• New technology for obtaining 2nd generation biofuels from ligneous wastes;
• New technology for obtaining 2nd generation biofuels from cellulosic wastes;
• New technology for obtaining 3rd generation biofuels from algae biomass;
• 2nd and 3rd generation biofuels characterized and tested on engines stand;
• Patents (3) for the technologies which will be developed for 2nd and 3rd generation biofuels obtaining.

Stage I
Theoretical study regarding the lignocellulosic biomass processing
methods in order to obtain 2nd generation biofuels

Activities:
Existing biomass processing methods.
Biofuels: history.
Lignocellulosic biomass types: situation in Romania post-adherence to EU.
Web Page.

Stage 2
Elaboration of Laboratory Technology in order to obtain 2nd
generation biofuels by hydrolysis of wood wastes

Activities:
Laboratory technology in order to obtain 2nd generation biofuels by hydrolysis of wood wastes: principles and basic features.

Stage 3
Achievement of technology and laboratory installation for hydrolysis of waste wood

Activities:
Laboratory technology in order to obtain 2nd generation biofuels by hydrolysis of wood wastes.
Laboratory installation for wood waste hydrolysis.

Stage 4
Experimenting the laboratory technology. Choosing the optimal solution
for wood waste usage. Dissemination. Round table organization. Patent proposal

Activities:
Technology features: raw materials, experimental conditions, operating parameters, efficiency, and material balance.
Physico-chemical characteristics of the new type of biofuel: octane number, motor octane number, Reid pressure vapor, ASTM distillation, hydrocarbon analysis, oxygen content, oxygen compounds, sulfur content, lead content.
Optimal solution technology (parameters and raw materials).
Round table.
Communications, articles, CD presentation, Web page upgraded.
Patent proposal.

Stage 5
Elaboration of Laboratory Technology for obtaining biofuels of 2nd
generation by enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulosic waste

Activities:
Laboratory Technology for obtaining biofuels of 2nd generation by enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulosic waste: principles and basic features.

Stage 6
Achievement of technology and laboratory installation for
enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulosic waste

Activities:
Laboratory Technology for obtaining biofuels of 2nd generation by enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulosic waste.
Laboratory installation for hydrolysis of cellulosic waste.

Stage 7
Experimenting the laboratory technology.
Choosing the optimal solution for wood waste usage

Activities:
Technology features: raw materials, experimental conditions, operating parameters, efficiency, and material balance.
Physico-chemical characteristics of the new type of biofuel: octane number, motor octane number, Reid pressure vapor, ASTM distillation, hydrocarbon analysis, oxygen content, oxygen compounds, sulfur content, lead content.
Optimal solution technology (parameters and raw materials).

Stage 8
Dissemination. Presenting manuals for both technologies.
Round table organization. Patent proposal

Activities:
Communications, articles, CD presentation, Web page upgraded.
Presentation manuals for enzymatic and acid hydrolysis.
Round table.
Patent proposal.

Stage I
Stage II
Stage III
Stage IV
Stage V
Stage VI
Stage VII
Stage VIII