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Thermochemical biorefinery based on dimethyl ether as intermediate: Technoeconomic assessment

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  • Haro, P.
  • Ollero, P.
  • Villanueva Perales, A.L.
  • Gómez-Barea, A.

Abstract

Thermochemical biorefinery based on dimethyl ether (DME) as an intermediate is studied. DME is converted into methyl acetate, which can either be hydrogenated to ethanol or sold as a co-product. Considering this option together with a variety of technologies for syngas upgrading, 12 different process concepts are analyzed. The considered products are ethanol, methyl acetate, H2, DME and electricity. The assessment of each alternative includes biomass pretreatment, gasification, syngas clean-up and conditioning, DME synthesis and conversion, product separation, and heat and power integration. A plant size of 500MWth processing poplar chips is taken as a basis. The resulting energy efficiency to products ranges from 34.9% to 50.2%. The largest internal rate of return (28.74%) corresponds to a concept which produces methyl acetate, DME and electricity (exported to grid). A sensitivity analysis with respect to total plant investment (TPI), total operation costs (TOC) and market price of products was carried out. The overall conclusion is that, despite its greater complexity, this kind of thermochemical biorefinery is more profitable than thermochemical bioprocesses oriented to a single product.

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  • Haro, P. & Ollero, P. & Villanueva Perales, A.L. & Gómez-Barea, A., 2013. "Thermochemical biorefinery based on dimethyl ether as intermediate: Technoeconomic assessment," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 950-961.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:102:y:2013:i:c:p:950-961
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2012.09.051
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Villanueva Perales, A.L. & Reyes Valle, C. & Ollero, P. & Gómez-Barea, A., 2011. "Technoeconomic assessment of ethanol production via thermochemical conversion of biomass by entrained flow gasification," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(7), pages 4097-4108.
    2. Naqvi, Muhammad & Yan, Jinyue & Dahlquist, Erik, 2012. "Bio-refinery system in a pulp mill for methanol production with comparison of pressurized black liquor gasification and dry gasification using direct causticization," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 90(1), pages 24-31.
    3. Haro, P. & Ollero, P. & Villanueva Perales, A.L. & Reyes Valle, C., 2012. "Technoeconomic assessment of lignocellulosic ethanol production via DME (dimethyl ether) hydrocarbonylation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 44(1), pages 891-901.
    4. Clausen, Lasse R. & Elmegaard, Brian & Houbak, Niels, 2010. "Technoeconomic analysis of a low CO2 emission dimethyl ether (DME) plant based on gasification of torrefied biomass," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(12), pages 4831-4842.
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    1. Haro, Pedro & Trippe, Frederik & Stahl, Ralph & Henrich, Edmund, 2013. "Bio-syngas to gasoline and olefins via DME – A comprehensive techno-economic assessment," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 54-65.
    2. Srijoni Banerjee & Chetan Pandit & Marttin Paulraj Gundupalli & Soumya Pandit & Nishant Rai & Dibyajit Lahiri & Kundan Kumar Chaubey & Sanket J. Joshi, 2024. "Life cycle assessment of revalorization of lignocellulose for the development of biorefineries," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(7), pages 16387-16418, July.
    3. Elsido, Cristina & Martelli, Emanuele & Kreutz, Thomas, 2019. "Heat integration and heat recovery steam cycle optimization for a low-carbon lignite/biomass-to-jet fuel demonstration project," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(C), pages 1322-1342.
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    5. Dhiman, Saurabh Sudha & David, Aditi & Braband, Vanessa W. & Hussein, Abdulmenan & Salem, David R. & Sani, Rajesh K., 2017. "Improved bioethanol production from corn stover: Role of enzymes, inducers and simultaneous product recovery," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 208(C), pages 1420-1429.
    6. Kuo, Yen-Ting & Almansa, G. Aranda & Vreugdenhil, B.J., 2018. "Catalytic aromatization of ethylene in syngas from biomass to enhance economic sustainability of gas production," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 215(C), pages 21-30.
    7. Haro, Pedro & Aracil, Cristina & Vidal-Barrero, Fernando & Ollero, Pedro, 2015. "Balance and saving of GHG emissions in thermochemical biorefineries," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 444-455.
    8. Perkins, Greg & Bhaskar, Thallada & Konarova, Muxina, 2018. "Process development status of fast pyrolysis technologies for the manufacture of renewable transport fuels from biomass," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 292-315.
    9. Haro, Pedro & Aracil, Cristina & Vidal-Barrero, Fernando & Ollero, Pedro, 2015. "Rewarding of extra-avoided GHG emissions in thermochemical biorefineries incorporating Bio-CCS," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 255-266.
    10. Das, Satyen Kumar & Mohanty, Pravakar & Majhi, Sachchit & Pant, Kamal Kishore, 2013. "CO-hydrogenation over silica supported iron based catalysts: Influence of potassium loading," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 267-276.
    11. Gutiérrez, R.E. & Guerra, K. & Haro, P., 2022. "Exploring the techno-economic feasibility of new bioeconomy concepts: Solar-assisted thermochemical biorefineries," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 322(C).
    12. Cristina Aracil & Ángel L. Villanueva Perales & Jacopo Giuntoli & Jorge Cristóbal & Pedro Haro, 2023. "The Role of Renewable-Derived Plastics in the Analysis of Waste Management Schemes: A Time-Dependent Carbon Cycle Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-21, June.
    13. Gutiérrez, R.E. & Haro, P. & Gómez-Barea, A., 2021. "Techno-economic and operational assessment of concentrated solar power plants with a dual supporting system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 302(C).
    14. Gutiérrez-Alvarez, R. & Guerra, K. & Haro, P., 2023. "Market profitability of CSP-biomass hybrid power plants: Towards a firm supply of renewable energy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 335(C).

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