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Process design and economic evaluation of integrated, multi‐product biorefineries for the co‐production of bio‐energy, succinic acid, and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) from sugarcane bagasse and trash lignocelluloses
Author(s) -
NiederHeitmann Mieke,
Haigh Kathleen,
Görgens Johann F.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
biofuels, bioproducts and biorefining
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.931
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1932-1031
pISSN - 1932-104X
DOI - 10.1002/bbb.1972
Subject(s) - bagasse , polyhydroxybutyrate , biorefinery , pulp and paper industry , hydrolysate , succinic acid , production (economics) , sugar , electricity , waste management , environmental science , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , biofuel , engineering , food science , economics , biochemistry , biology , hydrolysis , microeconomics , genetics , bacteria , electrical engineering
This study investigates whether a biorefinery, annexed to an existing sugar mill and co‐producing succinic acid, polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), and electricity from sugarcane bagasse and trash lignocelluloses, will be a viable investment opportunity for existing sugarcane mills. Four scenarios were simulated in Aspen Plus® and were included in the economic analysis. Scenario A involved the production of PHB and electricity; Scenario B the production of PHB, succinic acid, and electricity; Scenario C the production of succinic acid and electricity; and Scenario D involved the production of electricity only. The most favorable configuration was found for Scenario B where PHB was produced from 25% of the fermentable glucose stream, and succinic acid from the hemicellulose hydrolysate together with 75% of the glucose, resulting in an internal rate of return (IRR) of 24.1% with a net present value of US$477.2 million. Alternatively, Scenario D could be selected if low capital (130.1 million US$) and operational costs (US$13.2 million) are desired, although weak returns (IRR 10.3% and net present value of US$6.08 million) were observed for an electricity price of 0.08 US$ kWh −1 . © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd