Simulation and techno-economic assessment of bio-methanol production from pine biomass, biochar and pyrolysis oil

Abstract

In this paper, a model simulating bio-methanol production through gasification of different woody bioresources (pine biomass, biochar, and pyrolysis oil) is investigated using process simulation software Aspen Plus. The process consists of gasification, syngas post-treatment, methanol synthesis with recycling and purification. The model results are used as inputs in a techno-economic analysis of the process to assess the economic feasibility, as well as a sensitivity analysis to evaluate the impact of key variables. The economic evaluation is conducted by using three indicators, i.e., the net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR), and discounted payback period (DPBP). The sensitivity analysis is achieved to investigate the economic feasibility of different plant scales, changing parameters such as bio-methanol price, feedstock price, total capital investment (TCI), and plant lifespan. The preliminary economic evaluation results revealed that bio-methanol production from biochar can be an attractive option. The IRR obtained in the biochar scenario is greater, compared to using pine biomass. At a minimum plant scale of 1000 tons per day (TPD) and bio-methanol price of 1300$, biochar can achieve an IRR of 5.3%, which is higher than biomass at the same plant scales, although the price of biochar is higher than biomass. The IRR obtained in the pyrolysis oil scenario hardly reaches 5% unless the price considered for bio-methanol is as high as 2500 $/ton at the plant scale of 2000 TPD.