Process Design and Techno-Economic Feasibility Analysis of an Integrated Pineapple Processing Waste Biorefinery

Abstract

This study assesses the techno-economic feasibility of an integrated biorefinery based on pineapple processing waste. Xylooligosaccharides, ethanol, xylitol, bromelain, and silage are among the key products of the biorefinery. The economic performance of the processes involved in generating the biorefinery products was assessed based on calculations performed in ASPEN Plus. Seven different scenarios were designed with individual and multiple products and were further evaluated for a plant capacity of 10 tons per hour as the base case. Sensitivity analysis showed that plant capacity and selling price of value-added products were the most important factors that influenced plant economics. The plant capacity twice the base capacity often made the venture economically feasible as in the case of scenarios 1 (production of xylitol and silage) and 7 (production of bromelain, xylitol, and silage) with an NPV of $9.2 million and $8.9 million, respectively. Increasing the selling price of the products by 25% of the base case made scenarios 1 and 6 (production of bromelain, xylitol, ethanol, and silage) economically viable (NPV > 0). A decrease in the price for procurement of pineapple waste from $25/ton to $10/ton made scenario 4 (production of bromelain and silage) profitable with an NPV of $3.3 million and IRR of 42%.