Work

Advanced biorefinery integration in kraft pulp mills: BECCS pathways, commercial failure analysis, and the carbon price threshold for subsidy-free viability

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Kraft pulp mills are increasingly viewed as strategic platforms for decarbonization because they combine biogenic carbon flows, chemical recovery infrastructure, and opportunities for heat and material integration within a circular bioeconomy. However, prior reviews have focused mainly on gasification and have given less attention to integrated carbon capture, high value product routes, commercial failure lessons, and pathway specific economic thresholds. We critically reviewed sources published from 2018 to 2025 using the ROSES framework and a standardized reference case of a 1000 ADt/day bleached kraft mill. The synthesis compared black liquor gasification, lignin and hemicellulose valorization, heat integration, and bioenergy with carbon capture and storage using exergy, greenhouse gas, techno economic, and technology readiness evidence. Results show that black liquor gasification-based systems can increase exergy efficiency from about 40% for conventional recovery boilers to about 44% in integrated configurations, while system expansion studies report net greenhouse gas intensities of about 0.3 to 0.6 t CO 2 below zero per tonne pulp for selected fuel and chemical pathways. Carbon capture can deepen decarbonization, but the outcome is route specific: post combustion MEA systems typically achieve about 0.3 to 0.9 t CO 2 below zero per tonne pulp, whereas pre combustion capture integrated with black liquor gasification and water gas shift can reach about 0.8 to 1.5 t CO 2 below zero per tonne pulp where transport and storage infrastructure exist. Economic performance remains highly sensitive to product price, capital cost, utilization rate, and carbon price.

Source: Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2026.117485

Authors: Bilal Kazmi, Syed Ali Ammar Taqvi, Salman Raza Naqvi, Hana Štverková, Dagmar Juchelkova

Institutions: NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karlstad University, VSB - Technical University of Ostrava

Language: English

Topic: Carbon Dioxide Capture Technologies

Subfield: Mechanical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Responsible consumption and production, Climate action, Affordable and clean energy, Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $5,220