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Process development for the production of ethylene and propylene from lignocellulosic biomass via the chemical route using an o-cresol-based recovery strategy

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Abstract

This study presents a technical and economic assessment of the potential of a second-generation biorefinery process targeted at the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to ethylene and propylene. The process was developed through the integration of several catalytic processes involving hydrolysis, hydrogenation, decarboxylation, metathesis and cracking. Additional alternative configurations were developed as an improvement to the base case process using the combustion of all generated hydrocarbon and solid by-products, and reduced levulinic acid concentration in the hydrolysis process. The viability of the proposed bio-olefin production route was assessed using the target product yield, energy efficiencies and the minimum olefin selling price (MOSP). The results revealed that 30 ktonnes per year of lower olefins can be produced from the process at a plant processing capacity of 701 ktonnes of sugarcane bagasse per year with a base case energy efficiency and MOSP of 40% and $4.8/kg respectively. However, a reduction in the energy requirement of the hydrolysis unit in the alternative configurations (scenarios \(A\), \(B\) and \(C\)) resulted in scenario \(C\) as the most viable process with a reduced MOSP of $2.8/kg. A sensitivity analysis of the effect of the major cost drivers on the MOSP showed that the cumulative effect of the reduction in the feedstock cost, nitrogen gas cost and other economic parameters could lead to a more cost-competitive MOSP. Therefore, the developed process is a viable option for the production of ethylene and propylene from lignocellulosic biomass.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Funding

This work was supported by the South African National Research Foundation (grant number 101068).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Discipline of Chemical Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 4001, South Africa

    Aramide Adesina & David Lokhat

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, Lagos State University, Lagos, Nigeria

    Aramide Adesina

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  1. Aramide Adesina
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  2. David Lokhat
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All authors contributed to the research conception and design. The material preparation, experimental study, data collection and design were carried out by Aramide Adesina. The study supervision, proofreading and correction were carried out by David Lokhat. The final article was read and approved by all authors.

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Correspondence to Aramide Adesina.

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Adesina, A., Lokhat, D. Process development for the production of ethylene and propylene from lignocellulosic biomass via the chemical route using an o-cresol-based recovery strategy. Biomass Conv. Bioref. 14, 1679–1696 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-022-02376-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-022-02376-6

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