Techno-economic evaluation of heat integrated second generation bioethanol and furfural coproduction

Abstract

In a quest of alternative energy source of fossil fuels, lignocellulosic biomass is intensively studying to produce different liquid fuels and chemicals. Both fuel (bioethanol) and chemical (furfural) were produced simultaneously in this study through two different production routes, biochemical and thermochemical route. Actually, this study firstly defined production pathway in details for each production route from extensive literature survey. Later details production pathway simulation was carried out in Aspen Plus simulation software for each production route individually. As well as heat integration was carried out within each production route to make overall production process as energy efficient and more profitable. Finally, an economic analysis of each production route ensured economic feasibility as well as annual profitability for bioethanol and furfural coproduction in individual route. Moreover, a comparative study between production routes in terms of annual profitability showed that heat integrated biochemical route is more profitable for bioethanol and furfural coproduction. Based on processing of 658201.14 ton dry lignocellulosic biomass (corn stover) per year, heat integrated biochemical production route can produce per gallon bioethanol by $2.0 and can make $49.95 million annual profit, whereas, the values were $3.07 and $20.07 respectively for heat integrated thermochemical route.