Pilot study of magnetic nanoparticles via SuperPro simulation using catalytic hydrothermal carbonization process

Abstract

Nanoparticles can be utilised in many field applications such as environmental analysis, water and wastewater treatment and medical treatment due to its unique physical and biomedical properties. Magnetic nanoparticles are excellent absorbent to treat large volumes of water or wastewater. Magnetic nanoparticles not just only have the same properties as nanoparticles, yet it has magnetic characteristic. Iron oxides magnetic nanoparticles react with different functional groups and ligands, which can achieve specific contaminants removal. Despite of that, magnetic nanoparticles are still not commercially available for water and wastewater treatment. Thus, this pilot study was conducted based on the most economical and feasible approach to produce magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles. Magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles are synthesized via Hydrothermal Carbonization (HTC) process using sugarcane bagasse as carbon precursor followed by 400 ℃ heat treatment for tannin removal but still retain its good magnetic property. This pilot study was carried out based on a production capacity of 5000 tonnes per annum magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles with the least of 95% purity. Financial analysis for this pilot study was conducted. Total annualized cost for base case was rated to be USD $ 129,294,635 per annum. Total revenue for base case was estimated to be USD $4,452,949,096 with a payback period of 1.3 years. Net profit is USD $41,134,543 per annum with returned on investment (ROI) of 75% for base case. Thus, a plant scale-up is feasible for this pilot study.