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Techno-Economic Study and Environmental Analysis for the Production of Bio-methanol Using a Solar-Aided Dual-bed Gasifier

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Abstract

The study aimed to evaluate the effect of utilizing solar energy as a heat source for gasification reactions during the production of methanol from corn stover. For this purpose, two biorefinery scenarios were modelled: a standalone scenario where gasification was performed in a conventional dual-bed gasifier, and a solar-aided scenario where solar energy was used to drive the gasification reactions. In the solar-aided scenario, biochar was exported as a co-product rather than combusted. Results obtained revealed that the incorporation of solar energy could enhance the net gasification efficiency by 10 to 24%, depending on the biomass moisture content. Also, the biorefinery energy conversion efficiency was found to be 48% for the standalone scenario and 61% for the solar-aided scenario. Moreover, the export of biochar as a co-product resulted in a 35% decrease in potential environmental impact. Furthermore, the methanol production costs could be 0.31 $/litre for the standalone scenario and 0.50 $/litre for the solar-aided scenario. While the minimum biochar selling price was estimated to be 13.04\ $/GJ (0.37 $/kg). These results suggest that the adoption of solar-aided gasification could be one way to advance the circular bioeconomy concept, where lignocellulose is used to produce not only fuels but also bio-products capable of gradually substituting fossil-based alternatives.

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Data Availability

The datasets generated throughout the completion of the current study can be obtained from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Abbreviations

AP:

Acidification Potential

ATP:

Aquatic toxicity potential

Biorefinery:

An integration of conversion processes aiming at producing power, bio-chemicals, and biofuels from biomass

CECPI:

Chemical engineering cost plant index

CHP:

Combined heat and power system

CS:

Corn stover

CSP:

Concentrated solar power

CST:

Concentrated solar thermal

FCI:

Fixed capital investment

GWP:

Global warming potential

HHV:

Higher heating value

HMF:

Hydroxymethylfurfural

HTPE:

Human toxicity potential by dermal exposure or inhalation

HTPI:

Human toxicity potential by ingestion

HVPR:

High-velocity pneumatic riser

IRR:

Internal rate of return

ISBL:

Inside battery limit

LCA:

Life cycle analysis

LUE:

Land-use efficiency

LVFB:

Low-velocity fluidized bed

LVH:

Lower heating value

MEA:

Monoethanolamine

MMSP:

Minimum methanol selling price

NPV:

Net present value

NREL:

National renewable energy laboratory

ODP:

Ozone depletion potential

OPEC:

Organization of the petroleum exporting countries

PCOP:

Photochemical oxidation potential

PEI:

Potential environmental impact

PV:

Photovoltaic

RBPD:

Regional biomass processing depots

SAM:

System advisor model

TCI:

Total capital investment

TEA:

Techno-economic assessment

Thermochemical conversion:

Processing of biomass into biofuel using high-temperature processes

TNEE:

Tunzini Nessi Equipment Companies

TTP:

Terrestrial toxicity potential

WAR:

Waste reduction algorithm

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  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, University of South Africa, Florida, 1709, South Africa

    Christian Yakan à Nwai & Bilal Patel

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  1. Christian Yakan à Nwai
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Contributions

CYN, BP made substantial contributions to the methodology. Process simulation was performed by CYN. Result analysis and interpretation were conducted by CYN, BP. The first draft of the manuscript was written by CYN. The final manuscript was read and approved by CYN, BP.

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Correspondence to Christian Yakan à Nwai.

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Yakan à Nwai, C., Patel, B. Techno-Economic Study and Environmental Analysis for the Production of Bio-methanol Using a Solar-Aided Dual-bed Gasifier. Waste Biomass Valor 14, 4155–4171 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-023-02115-6

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