Process simulation and economic evaluation of an integrated production plant for methanol, acetic acid and DME synthesis via sugarcane bagasse gasification

Abstract

Sugarcane bagasse is generated in large quantities in Brazil, and it could be gasified for the production of several chemicals, adding value to the sugar and ethanol production chain. The objective of this work is the simulation of an integrated plant for the production of three important chemicals through sugarcane bagasse gasification: methanol, acetic acid and DME. A sensitivity analysis was performed and showed how gasification temperature and steam-to-biomass ratio should be adjusted to favor one or another product (T = 900 °C and SB = 0.9 for methanol and indirect acetic acid and DME production; T = 950 °C and SB = 0.5 for direct DME production), and an economic analysis has shown that the installation of a multipurpose plant is feasible (paybacks of less than 5 years and multipurpose fashion not affecting the investment return) and how the process can be reconfigured depending on the economic scenario.