Potential of commodity chemicals to become bio‐based according to maximum yields and petrochemical prices

Abstract

Carbohydrates are the prevailing biomass components available for bio-based production. The most direct way to convert carbohydrates into commodity chemicals is by one-step conversion at maximum theoretical yield, such as by anaerobic fermentation without side product formation. Considering these hypothetical yields and petrochemical prices in Europe in 2010-2014, a ranking of 58 commodity chemicals was made using a simple model with ethanol as a base case. It was concluded that base chemicals such as lower olefi ns and benzene-toluene-xylene (BTX) are too cheap and require too much carbohydrate to be produced competitively compared to bioethanol. However, more oxidized products that require multiple conversion steps in petrochemical production, such as adipic acid, acrylic acid, acrylate esters, and 1,4-butanediol, can be produced competitively from carbohydrates if theoretical yields are approached and if processing is effi cient. Instead of carbohydrate fermentation, hypothetical photochemical production from CO 2 was also considered. Using again a simple model, the same commodity chemicals remained the most attractive ones.

Current state of bioethanol fuel blends in Mexico

“…Despite important structural legal reforms of the energy sector, bioethanol production subsidies are not available, and the legal structure is still inadequate. At this time, a bioethanol production subsidy is necessary given that PEMEX is offering to pay USD 0.48/liter which is lower than its production cost of USD 0.57 /liter, lower than its market price in Mexico of USD 0.72/liter and much lower than the international market price for the gasoline additive methyl tert‐butyl ether (MTBE) that it could substitute and currently fluctuating at USD 0.98 ± 0.16 . Using agroindustry residues for bioethanol production as a gasoline additive has been proposed but not implemented in Mexico.…”

Comparative evaluation of lignocellulosic biorefinery scenarios under a life‐cycle assessment approach

“…Average market selling price (€/t) Glucose 355.0 26,41 Lignin 530.6 [42][43][44][45][46] Hemicellulose 105.4 [47][48][49] Bioethanol 830.5 [50][51][52][53][54] Furfural 865.3 [55][56][57][58][59][60] Acetic acid 834.2 [61][62][63][64] Modeling and Analysis: Lignocellulosic biorefinery life-cycle assessment S Bello et al…”

Environmental sustainability assessment of renewables‐based propylene glycol at full industrial scale production

“…Several authors have discussed the techno‐economic potential of producing commodity chemicals from glycerol, concluding that most income could be generated by conversion of glycerol to PG . The average bulk price of PG between 2010 and 2014 was 1.22 ± 0.11 € kg −1 . Oleon estimates the global PG market in 2018 to be between 2 and 2.5 million tons, with a market share of the renewables‐based PG below 5% (Oleon NV, private communication).…”

“…5 The average bulk price of PG between 2010 and 2014 was 1.22 ± 0.11 € kg −1 . 6 Oleon estimates the global PG market in 2018 to be between 2 and 2.5 million tons, with a market share of the renewables-based PG below 5% (Oleon NV, private communication). PG is used in many applications such as detergents and cosmetics.…”