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The conversion of low-grade lignocellulosic biomass such as residual wood or straw to synthetic fuels and chemicals is currently being developed within the bioliq® concept (at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology -KIT, Germany). The aim of this study is to model and assess three different synthesis process concepts with DME (dimethyl ether) as a platform chemical. The process concepts are designed and assessed using existing technologies, as well as the previous studies for pyrolysis and gasification sections. The respective considered products in the selected concepts are synthetic gasoline, ethylene and propylene.Using biomass for these applications can reduce fossil CO2 emissions by replacing non-renewable carbon sources. The techno-economic assessment concludes that total energy efficiency ranges between 37.5% and 41.1% for the production of gasoline and olefins, respectively. The resulting specific production cost in the gasoline concept is 72% higher than the current market price. In the olefins concept the difference to the current market prices of ethylene and propylene is reduced to 40%. The specific production costs in the gasoline and ethylene concept are 59% higher than current market prices. The possibility to sequestrate CO2 within the considered concepts at costs of 39 €/t allow additional revenues from sequestrated CO2. In order to meet current market prices, the implications of sequestrated CO2, mineral oil tax reduction and the combination of both kinds of subsidies are evaluated in this study. Keywords:Techno-economic assessment; Thermochemical biorefinery; Process design and simulation; Dimethyl ether (DME); Gasoline; Olefins IntroductionThe European Union enforces the use of biomass derived transportation fuels by setting a share of 10% biofuels for 2020 [1]. Synthetic gasoline produced from biomass is one of the most promising alternative fuels since it can be used in regular internal combustion engines without modifications. Furthermore biomass can reduce fossil CO 2 emissions by replacing nonrenewable carbon sources in other applications, such as in the chemical industry. The biobased production of olefins is a promising way to produce plastics from biomass. The integrated production of multiple products from biomass is currently discussed for future-expected thermochemical biorefineries using dimethyl ether (DME) as platform chemical, as for example using the DME (hydro)carbonylation route for the production of ethanol, methyl acetate DME and hydrogen from syngas (synthesis gas) [2]. In this study we assess the production of olefins and gasoline separately, i.e. two different concepts, and also the co-production (multiproduction) of gasoline and ethylene.

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The use of biomass in the production of plastics can contribute to the depletion of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and secondarily to partially fulfill the growing demand for plastics expected in the near future.The aim of this study is to assess the production of ethylene, one of the most important commodities in the petrochemical industry, via the dehydration of bioethanol and the conversion of bio-dimethyl ether (bio-DME) into olefins. Four case studies have been developed taking into account the different origins of bioethanol, and one for the conversion of bio-DME. The assessment includes current and promising processes for the production of bioethanol, i.e., 1st generation and 2nd generation bioethanol. The latter comprises biochemical processing (enzymatic hydrolysis), thermochemical processing (both direct and indirect syntheses from syngas) and hybrid processing (fermentation of syngas) of biomass. The results show that two of the considered case studies (Brazilian ethanol and ethanol via indirect synthesis from syngas) enable the cost-competitive production of ethylene at current market prices. If BECCS (Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage) is taken into account for the case studies, the results would be substantially enhanced and all cases, except for the case of bioethanol from biochemical processing, would be profitable.