Economic Analysis For Sustainable Utilization of Ethanol Production Residues From Grain and Inedible Plant Wastes

Author(s):  
Chao'en Li ◽  
May-Suan Lee ◽  
Andrew Hoadley ◽  
Jim Patel ◽  
Seng Lim ◽  
...  

Abstract The global initiative to find alternative fuel sources to fossil fuels is an ongoing process. As such, bioethanol is used as a fuel blend with petrol. However, large number of solid wastes is produced from ethanol plants sourcing from grain and inedible plant wastes, for example, WDGS (wet distiller’s grain with soluble) and DDGS (dry distiller’s grain with soluble) produced from ethanol plants using corn. This study investigates alternative methods for using these co-products through combustion and anaerobic digestion. Process simulation and economic analysis were conducted using current market prices to evaluate the viability of the processes. Products in the form of energy are produced. Optimization of the corn ethanol plant was also explored for re-using the heat and electricity produced in those processes. The profits of combustion and anaerobic digestion were compared. It was found that these processes will supply more viable options to simply selling the grain as feed for livestock. The anaerobic digestion of WDGS to produce electricity scenario was found to have the biggest profit among the four scenarios which can bring the annual income of 14.1 million Australian dollar to the ethanol plant. An environmental analysis of the CO2 emissions was also conducted. Using the Australian state emission factor, the amount of CO2 offset through both combustion and anaerobic digestion can be seen. The anaerobic digestion of WDGS to supply heat to the plant was proved having the largest CO2 abatement with the value of 0.58 kg-CO2e/L-EtOH.

Processes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 271
Author(s):  
Maria da Conceição T. B. e Oliveira ◽  
Kurt A. Rosentrater

The stimulation of renewable fuel production is related to the environmental issues resulting from the extraction and utilization of fossil fuels. Although corn-based ethanol is one of the leading renewable fuels and promises to mitigate these environmental impacts, it generates large volumes of wastewater with high concentrations of organic material (CODcr > 30,000 mg/L) and low pH (3.5–4.5), which leads to serious environmental concerns. A common method of treatment of distillery wastewater is the Dry Distilled Grain Soluble (DDGS) process, which separates liquid and solid fractions; however, a disadvantage of this process is its high energy consumption. Other commonly implemented methods are often costly and not environmentally safe. To minimize these problems, a flocculation process can be applied as a potential lower energy consumption process utilizing bioflocculants, which have been proven harmless to the environment. Therefore, the main goal of this study was to analyze the economic and environmental impacts of using bioflocculants instead of evaporation process in a corn-based ethanol plant. The procedures were evaluated by analyzing the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA). From the results, it can be seen that the flocculation system can be an alternative process for effectively minimizing energy consumption during the production of DDGS, Distilled Wet Grains with Solubles (DWGS), and corn oil. The flocculation process achieved a significantly (28%) lower utility cost when compared to the conventional system. However, the overall fixed costs and annual operating costs for the flocculation system were higher than those of the conventional system. Additionally, both processes resulted in negative profit and a sensitivity analysis showed that the feedstocks cost substantially impacted the DDGS, DWGS, and corn oil production costs. Related to environmental aspects, the LCA results showed that the flocculation process achieved the lowest Global Warming Potential (GWP) of the several electricity supply technologies analyzed and presented a significant reduction in CO2 equivalent emissions when compared to a conventional system. The flocculation process resulted in approximately 57% lower greenhouse gas emissions.


Symmetry ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 982
Author(s):  
Yew Heng Teoh ◽  
Heoy Geok How ◽  
Farooq Sher ◽  
Thanh Danh Le ◽  
Hwai Chyuan Ong ◽  
...  

Biodiesel has gained popularity in diesel engines as a result of the rapid decline of fossil fuels and population growth. The processing of biodiesel from non-edible Moringa Oleifera was investigated using a single-step transesterification technique. Both fuels had their key physicochemical properties measured and investigated. In a common-rail diesel engine, the effects of MB50 fuel blend on the symmetric characteristics of engine-out responses were evaluated under five load settings and at 1000 rpm. As compared to standard diesel, MB50 increased brake thermal efficiency (BTE), and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions while lowering brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC), and smoke emissions for all engine loads. A further study of injection pressure and start of injection (SOI) timing for MB50 fuel was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). The RSM optimization resulted in improved combustion dynamics due to symmetry operating parameters, resulting in a simultaneous decrease in NOx and smoke emissions without sacrificing BTE. RSM is an efficient optimization method for achieving optimal fuel injection parameter settings, as can be deduced. As a result, a clearer understanding of the use of MB50 fuel in diesel engines can be given, allowing for the best possible engine efficiency.


Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 4292
Author(s):  
Lidia Lombardi ◽  
Barbara Mendecka ◽  
Simone Fabrizi

Industrial anaerobic digestion requires low temperature thermal energy to heat the feedstock and maintain temperature conditions inside the reactor. In some cases, the thermal requirements are satisfied by burning part of the produced biogas in devoted boilers. However, part of the biogas can be saved by integrating thermal solar energy into the anaerobic digestion plant. We study the possibility of integrating solar thermal energy in biowaste mesophilic/thermophilic anaerobic digestion, with the aim of reducing the amount of biogas burnt for internal heating and increasing the amount of biogas, further upgraded to biomethane and injected into the natural gas grid. With respect to previously available studies that evaluated the possibility of integrating solar thermal energy in anaerobic digestion, we introduce the topic of economic sustainability by performing a preliminary and simplified economic analysis of the solar system, based only on the additional costs/revenues. The case of Italian economic incentives for biomethane injection into the natural gas grid—that are particularly favourable—is considered as reference case. The amount of saved biogas/biomethane, on an annual basis, is about 4–55% of the heat required by the gas boiler in the base case, without solar integration, depending on the different considered variables (mesophilic/thermophilic, solar field area, storage time, latitude, type of collector). Results of the economic analysis show that the economic sustainability can be reached only for some of the analysed conditions, using the less expensive collector, even if its efficiency allows lower biomethane savings. Future reduction of solar collector costs might improve the economic feasibility. However, when the payback time is calculated, excluding the Italian incentives and considering selling the biomethane at the natural gas price, its value is always higher than 10 years. Therefore, incentives mechanism is of great importance to support the economic sustainability of solar integration in biowaste anaerobic digestion producing biomethane.


Processes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 1046
Author(s):  
Jenna Ruokonen ◽  
Harri Nieminen ◽  
Ahmed Rufai Dahiru ◽  
Arto Laari ◽  
Tuomas Koiranen ◽  
...  

The ambitious CO2 emission reduction targets for the transport sector set in the Paris Climate Agreement require low-carbon energy solutions that can be commissioned rapidly. The production of gasoline, kerosene, and diesel from renewable methanol using methanol-to-olefins (MTO) and Mobil’s Olefins to Gasoline and Distillate (MOGD) syntheses was investigated in this study via process simulation and economic analysis. The current work presents a process simulation model comprising liquid fuel production and heat integration. According to the economic analysis, the total cost of production was found to be 3409 €/tfuels (273 €/MWhLHV), corresponding to a renewable methanol price of 963 €/t (174 €/MWhLHV). The calculated fuel price is considerably higher than the current cost of fossil fuels and biofuel blending components. The price of renewable methanol, which is largely dictated by the cost of electrolytic hydrogen and renewable electricity, was found to be the most significant factor affecting the profitability of the MTO-MOGD plant. To reduce the price of renewable fuels and make them economically viable, it is recommended that the EU’s sustainable transport policies are enacted to allow flexible and practical solutions to reduce transport-related emissions within the member states.


2021 ◽  
pp. 132735
Author(s):  
Jian Wang ◽  
Zibiao Liu ◽  
Rui Liang ◽  
Beibei Yan ◽  
Junyu Tao ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sina Temsgen Tolera ◽  
Fekade Ketema Alemu

Our environment is facing serious problems of high volumes of waste generation and inadequate disposal system in worldwide particularly in developing countries. There is also lack of studies on quantification of abattoir waste and lack of workers awareness towards abattoir waste. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to estimate abattoir waste for bioenergy potential as sustainable management. A cross-sectional study was conducted in four selected abattoirs of Eastern Ethiopia from January 1st, 2018 to December 30th, 2018. The magnitude of abattoir waste composition was computed based on Aniebo mathematical computational from the actual number of slaughtered livestock. The study demonstrated that four selected abattoirs generate 1,606.403 ton of abattoir waste per year and using anaerobic digestion of about 85,139 m3/year of biogas and 111.25 ton/year of biofertilizer can be produced. The biogas or energy from the waste can replace firewood and charcoal and the expensive fossil fuels. Using Banks mathematical computation about 20,054.12 m3/year production of biogas could replace 20.56 ton/year of energy consumed by liquefied petroleum gas, kerosene, charcoal, furnace oil, petrol, and diesel in average. The current estimated biofertilizer (111.25 ton/year) from four abattoir sites can cover about 2,225 hectares/year with its advantage and efficiency of soil. When turned into cost, about $55,645 per year of price could estimate from biogas and biofertilizer. The study concluded that huge amount of biogas and dry biofertilizer yields could produce from abattoir waste through anaerobic digestion. Therefore, installing anaerobic digestion plant is recommended to ensure environmental safety and public health.


Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 852 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jisook Lee ◽  
Yongho Son ◽  
Kwang Lee ◽  
Wangyun Won

The depletion of fossil fuels and environmental pollution (e.g., greenhouse gas emissions) through the combustion of fossil fuels have stimulated studies on new technologies able to curtail the energy consumption of existing fractionation units. In this regard, heat pumps have garnered substantial attention due to their potential to improve the process energy efficiency. This study aims to provide extensive economic analysis and environmental impact assessment of the application of heat pumps under different conditions and scenarios. For this purpose, we first selected three important conditions: feed composition, plant capacity, and fuel price. Then, we performed a range of analyses to identify the major costs and environmental drivers. The economics and environmental impact of heat pump-assisted distillation was investigated and compared with those of conventional distillation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (21) ◽  
pp. 8928
Author(s):  
Yashni Gopalakrishnan ◽  
Adel Al-Gheethi ◽  
Marlinda Abdul Malek ◽  
Mawar Marisa Azlan ◽  
Mohammed Al-Sahari ◽  
...  

Azo dyes including C. I. Basic Brown 16 (BB16) are one of the coloured organic compounds that have adverse effects on human health and the environment. The current work aims to optimise the adsorption of C.I BB16 in aqueous solution using durian (Durio zibethinus murray) shell as a low-cost green adsorbent. Durian shell was characterised by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The adsorption process was optimised with response surface methodology (RSM) based on pH (4–8), time (30–240 min), durian shell dosage (0.1–1.0 g/L) and initial concentration of C.I BB16 (10–20 ppm). The removal efficiency was determined based on the reduction of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and the decolourisation of C.I BB16. The techno-economic analysis was described in the current work to know the economic feasibility of durian shells as an adsorbent. The SEM images showed that durian shell adsorbent has a smooth surface with no pores. FTIR spectra confirmed the presence of -C-O, =C–H, C=C, -C-O-C and O-H bonds in durian shell. Maximum decolourisation (77.6%) and COD removal (80.6%) for C.I BB16 was achieved with the interaction between pH, time and adsorbent dose and initial concentration of C.I BB16. The optimal operating factors for adsorption of C.I BB16 recorded at pH 8, time (30 min), durian shell dosage (1 g/L) and 15 mg /L of C.I BB16 concentrations were 77.61 vs. 74.26 (%) of C.I BB16 removal and 80.60 vs. 78.72 (%) of COD removal with an R2 coefficient of 0.94 at p < 0.05. The specific cost of durian shell coagulant production is USD 172.71 per ton which is lower than the market price of honeydew peels-activated carbon (HDP-AC) (USD 261.81) and the commercial market price of activated carbon which is USD 1000.00/tons. These findings indicated that the durian adsorbent provides alternative methods for treating hair dye wastewater. These findings indicated that durian shells have a high potential for the adsorption of C.I BB16 in aqueous solution.


2012 ◽  
Vol 36 ◽  
pp. 327-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saqib Sohail Toor ◽  
Lasse Rosendahl ◽  
Mads Pagh Nielsen ◽  
Marianne Glasius ◽  
Andreas Rudolf ◽  
...  

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