(251b) Good Enough for Biotech, Good Enough for Biofuels: A Risk-Based Approach to Managing Biomass Feedstock Variability

Quality-by-Design (QbD) is a decades-old framework and process for ensuring that end product specifications can be met as a function of the input feedstock and operating parameters through the process. In 2019, the DOE funded Feedstock Conversion Interface Consortium implemented a quality-by-design approach to managing the inherent variability that is found in lignocellulosic biomass. Historically, biorefineries have sought to employ equipment or processes from other industries such as grain processing or paper and pulp, and often to no avail. This talk will explore the progress made on employing this QbD process to biofuels derived from lignocellulosic feedstocks. Specifically, several advancements will be discussed.

First, progress made towards identifying, quantifying, and understanding the downstream impacts of critical material attributes will be discussed. Historically total ash, moisture content, and average particle size have been used to define feedstock ‘quality’, however, these fail to account for the variability imparted by environmental conditions (e.g. drought), storage conditions, and harvesting method. Work done by the Consortium has identified many additional critical material attributes that better characterize downstream performance, particularly in feeding operations and conversion performance. Second, the talk will discuss the use of risk-based methods for identifying and classifying material attributes. Through failure mode and effects analysis, the Consortium has developed a bias-free approach for identifying and classifying new feedstock attributes and processing parameters that must be monitored and mitigated through the process. Finally, the talk will explore several new tools and instruments that can readily be employed by industry to manage feedstock variability while simultaneously achieving economic and environmental sustainability targets.