The Italian steam explosion program at ENEA

The Italian National Agency for New Technology, Energy and Environment (ENEA) conducts research, development and testing on innovative technologies and equipment and on technology transfer to industry and agriculture. The Agency has a staff of around 5000 Italy-wide. In 1987, ENEA began a research project on new processes and technologies concerning the conversion of ligno-cellulosic materials. In 1992, a continuous steam explosion pilot plant designed by Stake Technology Ltd., Ontario, Canada was installed at the ENEA Trisaia Centre in Southern Italy. This has a capacity of 175 Kg h−1 throughput of dry biomass. The plant is also equipped with two continuous extraction systems for the separation of hemicellulose, lignin and cellulose. This work presents the main characteristics of the continuous pilot plant, the strategies and/or products; finally, introduces new applications of the steam explosion process which ENEA is carrying out in collaboration with an Italian Firm, SADEPAN CHIMICA Spa, to produce fibreboards or chemicals from agro-industrial residues.