Renewable Acid-hydrolysis Condensation Hydrotreating (REACH) Pilot Plant Award Number: DE-EE0006244 CX(s) Applied: A9, B3.6 Bioenergy Technology Office Date: 07/31/2014 Location(s): IN Office(s): Golden Field Office
Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance
March 7, 2016
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Renewable Acid-hydrolysis Condensation Hydrotreating (REACH) Pilot Plant
Award Number: DE-EE0006244
CX(s) Applied: A9, B3.6
Bioenergy Technology Office
Date: 07/31/2014
Location(s): IN
Office(s): Golden Field Office
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing to provide federal funding to Mercurius Biofuels LLC to develop a conversion process and pilot plant that converts biomass feedstock to drop-in hydrocarbon liquid fuels. There was a previous NEPA determination (GFO-0006244-001 CX A9 8/27/2013) that involved Budget Period (BP) 1A activities such as data collection and analysis, project site visits, and meetings to validate existing equipment, project sites and data. This NEPA determination applies to BP 1A project activities that would involve bench-scale laboratory research and analysis only. BPs 1B and 2 are not being considered at this time and will require additional NEPA review.
The proposed project would produce small (tens of kilograms) quantities of 5-(chloromethyl)furfural (CMF)(bio-fuel) from corn stover; produce small (tens of kilograms) quantities of biomass conversion condensation products; optimize biomass conversion processes at a sufficient scale to provide assurance and input for subsequent pilot plant design and construction steps; and confirm acceptable yields of chemical intermediates. Less than 10kg of biomass would be processed, and less than 30kg of chemical intermediates, solvents, and chemical wastes and other products would be produced in this budget period. The project work would occur at three locations: the Purdue LORRE Lab located at 500 Central Dr., West Lafayette, IN 47907, Michigan State University Bioeconomics Institute located at 242 Howard Ave, Holland, Michigan 49424, and Battelle located at 505 King Ave, Columbus, OH 4320. All hazardous waste would be collected in the laboratory and picked up, processed and properly disposed of by each lab. All waste would be disposed of according to federal, state, and local regulations. No modifications to existing facilities or construction of new facilities would occur and no new or modified permits would be required.