Biorefineries leading to the Digital Enterprise
Sustainable use of biomass
In a biorefinery, biomass is used to produce raw materials, combustibles, fuels, and chemicals by means of thermochemical, biochemical, or electrochemical conversion. Compared to fossil raw materials, nearly all of the biomass can be used, which combusts on a CO2 neutral basis and also serves as a renewable raw material, offering considerable potential for achieving sustainable production. The challenge now is to use biomass in a cost-efficient manner, which we support you in doing.
Efficient design of bioprocesses
A biorefinery is comparable to an oil refinery, where raw materials are first pretreated and processed, then separated into components, and ultimately converted or refined. If biomass is used in the refinery instead of oil, this improves the energy footprint and protects the environment. More and more chemical companies are looking for efficient, safe, and high-quality methods to produce or refine their products on the basis of biological processes. In biotechnological production, living bacteria and plant material are suitable as starting materials. Fat and vegetable oil can also be used as raw material, e.g. as in a biodiesel plant.
Research for greater sustainability
To this end, renewable raw materials or microorganisms are used to obtain high-quality compounds through synthesis or fermentation. These compounds are then used in the production of bioplastics based on lactic acid (polylactide acid, PLA). A portion of the biomass is used in the plant not as a material but as a source of energy.
High standards for the processes
Development of biologically based products requires a great deal of time and money. It is necessary to observe statutory regulations and meet high quality requirements. Highly complex and sensitive laboratory procedures often have to be scaled to industrial size. It is important to commission the plant easily and quickly – using COMOS Engineering, for example – as well as to control the processes flexibly and cost efficiently with SIMATIC PCS 7.
Processes become digital
The full potential of biotechnological production can be exploited through the digitalization of biological processes. The centerpiece of the digital plant is its digital twin – a precise map of the virtual biorefinery and the data documentation over the entire value flow and lifecycle. With our simulation tools, processes and plant components can be simulated and continuously optimized through repeatable tests. Intelligent data analyses based on digital applications and their rapid implementation accelerate innovation and boost productivity while also helping to enhance product quality.
Assisting you throughout the entire process
Biodiesel can be used in many different ways, produced from different starting materials, and tailored to a variety of requirements through blending. In addition to performance, the safety of our solutions play an important role, given that production of biodiesel also takes place in hazardous areas – for greater availability and efficiency of your plant.
Biotechnological processes
Less costs, higher transparency, more effectiveness: Optimize the automation, digital transformation and energy distribution of your biofuel plant with our products and solutions - it will pay off for you.
