{{Infobox technology
| Feedstock = lignocellulose, straws, wood
| Product =Dismantled lignocellulosic biomass
|Name= Steam explosion|Category=Pre-treatment}}
<onlyinclude>'''Steam explosion''' is a physicochemical method to break the lignocellulose structure by using high-pressure steam to disrupt the bonding between polymeric components (lignin, cellulose) and decompression. It can be used to pre-treat the lignocellulosic biomass to improve subsequent processes, such as [[Hydrolysis#Enzymatic hydrolysis|enzymatic hydrolysis]].</onlyinclude>

==Feedstock==

=== Origin and composition ===
Steam explosion is used to pre-treat lignocellulosic biomass such as wood, straw and lignocellulosic wastes for industrial processes. Normally, the material enters the steam explosion process as [[Sizing|chips]], pellets or ground material.

=== Pre-treatment ===

* [[Sizing]]

== Process and technologies ==
Lignocellulosic biomass, such as wood, exists of composite materials with high mechanical strength composed of cellulose fibres, lignin polymers as a matrix and hemicelluloses in a tightly packed cellular structure of fibres that form fibre bundles. Their natural function is to bear high mechanical loads, and to resist chemical and enzymatic degradation through microorganisms. Steam explosion breaks this structure down to enable these chemical and enzymatic [[Conversion|conversions]]. It converts biomass in a steam atmosphere at elevated temperatures ranging from 140 to 240 °C. The steam pressure is rapidly reduced to atmospheric pressure, whereby a mechanical disruption of biomass occurs. In steam explosion, the lignocellulosic biomass is treated with a high-pressure, hot steam for some time and then the vessel is rapidly depressurised to atmospheric pressure. With this explosive decompression and high temperature it causes degradation of hemicellulose, which is extracted as a water-soluble fraction. The cellulose is largely preserved in its original form, and only slight depolymerisation occurs at mild reaction condition. The Lignin undergoes depolymerisation by cleavage of β–O–4 linkages, and condensation of the fragments occurs to form a more stable polymer.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Steam Explosion - an overview {{!}} ScienceDirect Topics|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemistry/steam-explosion|date accessed=2021-08-30}}</ref>

Steam explosion was introduced and patented as a biomass pre-treatment process in 1926 by Mason et al. (1926)<ref>W.H. Mason WH (1926): ''Process and apparatus for disintegration of wood and the like.'' US Patent: 1578609, 1926.</ref>. The patent describes a steam explosion process for the pre-treatment of wood where wood chips are fed from a bin through a screw loading valve. The chips are then steam heated at a temperature of about 285°C and a pressure of 3.5 MPa for about 2 min. The pressure is increased rapidly to about 7 MPa (70 bar) for about 5 s, and the chips are then discharged and explode at atmospheric pressure into a pulp. The sudden pressure release defibrillates the cellulose bundles, and this result in a better accessibility of the cellulose for [[hydrolysis]]<ref name=":0">David Steinbach, Andrea Kruse, Jörg Sauer, Jonas Storz (2020): ''Is Steam Explosion a Promising Pretreatment for Acid Hydrolysis of Lignocellulosic Biomass?'' Process 8, 1626;, p. 75–104. ([https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9717/8/12/1626 pdf])</ref> or [[Industrial fermentation|fermentation]].<ref name=":1">M. Tanahashi (1990): ''Characterization and degradation mechanisms of wood components by steam explosion and utilization of exploded wood.'' Wood Research 77, 1990: p. 49-117. ([https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/39187461.pdf pdf])</ref><ref name=":2">Wolfgang Stelte: ''Steam explosion for biomass pre-treatment.'' Danish Technological Institute</ref><ref name=":3">Kun Wang, Jinghuan Chen, Shao-Ni Sun, Run-Cang Sun: ''Steam Explosion.'' In: ''Pretreatment of Biomass.'' Elsevier, 2015, p. 75–104. ([https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282595810 pdf])</ref>

==Product==
Steam explosion is a pre-treatment process that makes biomass more suitable for following processes, such as [[Hydrolysis#Enzymatic hydrolysis|enzymatic hydrolysis]], [[Hydrolysis#Acid|acid hydrolysis]]<ref name=":0" /> or [[Industrial fermentation|fermentation]]. Depending on residence time and temperature, steam explosion can result in anything from small cracks in the wood structure, to total defibrillation of the wood fibers.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />

=== Post-treatment ===

* [[Hydrolysis]]
* [[Industrial fermentation|Fermentation]]

==Technology providers==
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+'''Technology comparison'''
! class="cd-text-darkgreen" style="vertical-align:{{{va|bottom}}}"| Company name
! class="cd-text-darkgreen" style="vertical-align:{{{va|bottom}}}"| Country
! class="cd-text-darkgreen" style="vertical-align:{{{va|bottom}}}"| Technology category
! class="cd-text-darkgreen" style="vertical-align:{{{va|bottom}}}"| Technology name
! class="cd-text-darkgreen" style="vertical-align:{{{va|bottom}}}"| TRL
! class="cd-text-darkgreen" style="vertical-align:{{{va|bottom}}}"| Capacity [kg/h]
! class="cd-text-darkgreen" style="vertical-align:{{{va|bottom}}}"| Pressure [bar]
! class="cd-text-darkgreen" style="vertical-align:{{{va|bottom}}}"| Temperature [°C]
! class="cd-text-darkgreen" style="{{writing-mode|s2}};vertical-align:{{{va|bottom}}}"| Feedstock: Food waste
! class="cd-text-darkgreen" style="{{writing-mode|s2}};vertical-align:{{{va|bottom}}}"| Feedstock: Garden & park waste
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| [Technology category (if different sub-categories are defined this has to be specified here, the available categories can be found on each technology page under the chapter [[Help:Article content of technology pages#Process_and_technologies|Process and technologies]])]
| [Technology name (the "branded name" or the usual naming from company side)]
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| [Country HQ location]
| [(if different sub-categories are defined this has to be specified here, the available categories can be found on each technology page under the chapter [[Help:Article content of technology pages#Process_and_technologies|Process and technologies]])]
| [Technology name (the "branded name" or the usual naming from company side)]
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===XYZ===
{{Infobox provider-steam explosion}}

===XYZ===
===XYZ===

== Open access pilot and demo facility providers ==
[https://biopilots4u.eu/database?field_technology_area_data_target_id=107&field_technology_area_target_id%5B99%5D=99&field_contact_address_value_country_code=All&field_scale_value=All&combine=&combine_1= Pilots4U Database]

==Patents==
Currently no patents have been identified.

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Primary processing]]
[[Category:Pre-Treatment]]

Sizing

2022-01-31T08:39:05Z

Aylin Özgen: Proofreading- some little adjustments

{{Infobox technology
| Feedstock = straws, wood, wastes
| Product =Flowable small-sized biomass
|Name= Sizing|Category=Pre-processing}}
<onlyinclude>'''Sizing''' is a mechanical process that aims to reduce the particle size and crystallinity and to increase the specific surface area of biowaste to promote further processing of the substrate.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Quanguo Zhang, Chao He, Jingzheng Ren, Michael Goodsite|year=2021|book_title=Waste to renewable biohydrogen. Volume 1, Advances in theory and experiments|publisher=Elsevier Inc.|place=Amsterdam|ISBN=978-0-12-821659-0}}</ref> This is achieved by eliminating mass and heat transfer limitation during the required reaction. It is a very efficient technique, but a major drawback is the high energy input.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Muhammad H. Rashid|year=2015|book_title=Electric renewable energy systems|publisher=Elsevier Inc.|place=London, UK|ISBN=978-0-12-800636-8}}</ref> Moreover, sizing makes the biomass easier to handle and allows it to flow. Sizing includes chipping, extrusion, grinding, and milling as base technologies. </onlyinclude>

== Feedstock ==

=== Origin and composition ===
Sizing is a pre-treatment technology for nearly all biowaste materials that consist of large particles like straws, wood pieces, plant fibres and other materials. It is needed to prepare smaller particles that can be processed in further steps.

=== Pre-treatment ===
Sizing is often performed as a first step in the process and requires no other pre-treatment. It is, however, not uncommon to first perform a coarse grinding before a fine grinding into smaller particles. Moreover, extrusion and milling are commonly combined with another sizing pre-treatment such as grinding.

== Process and technologies==
Sizing technologies normally are divided into chipping, extrusion, grinding, and milling technologies:

=== Chipping ===
For chipping normally a chipper machine is used that consists of sharp cutting knives, which cut bigger parts into smaller chips. This is used e.g. for wood materials, straws, mixed garden residues and other feedstock that can be cut by a knife. Chippers are susceptible to knife wear from high soil content, metal contamination, rocks and stone, so the base feedstock normally needs to be cleaned before chipping. The size of the resulting materials is typically 10–30 mm after chipping.
=== Extrusion ===
Extrusion is a continuous process that can handle a wide range of feedstocks, including viscous and complex fluids, and powders. The feedstock is heated and forced through an opening called 'die'. The feedstock is forced through the die by one or two screws in a heated barrel, the extruder.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Clive Maier|year=1998|book_title=Polypropylene : the definitive user's guide and databook|publisher=Plastics Design Library|place=Norwich, NY|ISBN=978-0-8155-1867-9}}</ref>
=== Grinding ===
There are two types of grinding: coarse grinding, which can then be followed by fine grinding. Normally a grinder is used to crack bigger parts into smaller particles. The size of the resulting materials is typically 0.2–2 mm. Grinding is achieved by shearing and/or friction and the effect is achieved by multiple comminution in an increasingly narrowing grinding gap, which can usually be varied by axial displacement of a rotor or stator. The frequently tested process variables are screen size, angular velocity, time, feed rate, type, feed size, load, moisture content, and process.<ref>{{Cite journal|author=Tumuluru JS, Heikkila DJ|year=2019|title=Biomass Grinding Process Optimization Using Response Surface Methodology and a Hybrid Genetic Algorithm|journal=Bioengineering|volume=12|issue=6, no. 1|page=1-12|doi=10.3390/bioengineering6010012}}</ref>
=== Milling ===
Milling combines several mechanical stresses, such as compression, friction, impact, and shear. The combination of these stresses reduce the particle size, crystallinity, and degree of polymerisation, making the biowaste more accessible for further processing. However, milling is energy intensive and has a high capital cost. The required energy can be reduced by combining milling with other processes.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Ball milling as an important pretreatment technique in lignocellulose biorefineries: a review|year=2021-08-12|author=Yalew Woldeamanuel Sitotaw, Nigus G. Habtu, Abaynesh Yihdego Gebreyohannes, Suzana P. Nunes, Tom Van Gerven|journal=Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery|doi=10.1007/s13399-021-01800-7}}</ref>

== Product ==
Products of sizing processes are chips, small particles or meals that can directly be used for further processing.

=== Post-treatment ===

== Technology providers ==
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+'''Technology comparison'''
! class="cd-text-darkgreen" style="vertical-align:{{{va|bottom}}}"| Company name
! class="cd-text-darkgreen" style="vertical-align:{{{va|bottom}}}"| Country
! class="cd-text-darkgreen" style="vertical-align:{{{va|bottom}}}"| Technology category
! class="cd-text-darkgreen" style="vertical-align:{{{va|bottom}}}"| Technology name
! class="cd-text-darkgreen" style="vertical-align:{{{va|bottom}}}"| TRL
! class="cd-text-darkgreen" style="vertical-align:{{{va|bottom}}}"| Capacity [kg/h]
! class="cd-text-darkgreen" style="{{writing-mode|s2}};vertical-align:{{{va|bottom}}}"| Cooling system available
! class="cd-text-darkgreen" style="{{writing-mode|s2}};vertical-align:{{{va|bottom}}}"| Feedstock: Food waste
! class="cd-text-darkgreen" style="{{writing-mode|s2}};vertical-align:{{{va|bottom}}}"| Feedstock: Garden & park waste
|-
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| [[Help:Article content of technology pages#Company_1|Company 1]]
| [Country HQ location]
| [Technology category (if different sub-categories are defined this has to be specified here, the available categories can be found on each technology page under the chapter [[Help:Article content of technology pages#Process_and_technologies|Process and technologies]])]
| [Technology name (the "branded name" or the usual naming from company side)]
| [4-9]
| [numeric value]
| class="cd-background-lightgreen cd-text-darkgreen" style="text-align:center" |●
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|-
| [[Help:Article content of technology pages#Company_2|Company 2]]
| [Country HQ location]
| [(if different sub-categories are defined this has to be specified here, the available categories can be found on each technology page under the chapter [[Help:Article content of technology pages#Process_and_technologies|Process and technologies]])]
| [Technology name (the "branded name" or the usual naming from company side)]
| [4-9]
| [numeric value]
| class="cd-background-lightgreen cd-text-darkgreen" style="text-align:center" |●
| class="cd-background-lightgreen cd-text-darkgreen" style="text-align:center" |●
| class="cd-background-lightgreen cd-text-darkgreen" style="text-align:center" |●
|}
=== Company 1 ===
{{Infobox provider-sizing}}

=== ANDRITZ ===

=== Mastershred GmbH ===
== Open access pilot and demo facility providers ==
[https://biopilots4u.eu/database?field_technology_area_data_target_id=107&field_technology_area_target_id%5B88%5D=88&field_contact_address_value_country_code=All&field_scale_value=All&combine=&combine_1= Pilots4U Database]

== Patents ==
Currently no patents have been identified.

== References ==

[[Category:Primary processing]]
[[Category:Pre-Treatment]]