Techno‐economic analysis of co‐production of 2,3‐butanediol, furfural, and technical lignin via biomass processing based on deep eutectic solvent pretreatment

Abstract

This study analyzed the techno‐economic feasibility of a biomass conversion process enabled by high‐solid loading deep eutectic solvent (DES) pretreatment for the co‐production of 2,3‐butanediol (BDO), furfural, and technical lignin. Aspen plus was used for process simulation; economic analysis models were developed to evaluate commercial potential; sensitivity analysis was carried out to evaluate the effects of key parameters on the production cost of 2,3‐BDO; and Monte‐Carlo simulation was used for uncertainty analysis. Two cases of high‐solid loading pretreatment (20% versus 27%) for DES pretreatment were compared. The process simulation results indicate that 78–79% of cellulose, 63–70% of xylan, and 40–44% of lignin in raw switchgrass are converted into 2,3‐BDO, furfural, and technical lignin, respectively. The minimum 2,3‐BDO selling price (MBSP) of these two cases is estimated to be 1703–1736 $ ton−1, which is about half of the current 2,3‐BDO market price. Sensitivity analyses show that the prices and recycle ratios of acetone and methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) have larger impacts on the MBSP, which indicates that further technical improvement should focus on reducing their consumption. The uncertainty analysis indicates that 20 and 27% solid loading systems have similar confident intervals, with 90% confidence interval of MBSP ranging from 1450–1990 $ ton−1. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Bioprocess Development for 2,3‐Butanediol Production by Paenibacillus Strains

“…The 2,3‐BDO market price is currently similar to the 1,4‐BDO, around 3.23 $/kg 14. The fermentation process could be a sustainable alternative, provided that it generates an economic advantage.…”

Technoeconomic Analysis of Multiple-Stream Ethanol and Lignin Production from Lignocellulosic Biomass: Insights into the Chemical Selection and Process Integration

“…94 It was also mentioned that after lignin precipitation the resulting liquor was evaporated at 70 °C in a convection oven to remove excess water to recycle ChCl:EG, 94 whereas during the process simulation the resultant liquor was directly reused for pretreatment. 93 Actually, the ChCl:EG concentration is highly diluted due to the postwashing; even if some of it is recycled, it would result in abundant wastewater (containing ChCl:EG) accumulation for a continuous model. The residual ChCl:EG and H 2 SO 4 in the pretreated biomass cannot be ignored because of their toxicity to enzymes and microbes.…”

“…Strikingly, inconsistencies in critical operation steps and conversion yields between the cited references are found. For example, Zang et al reported that switchgrass pretreated by choline chloride:ethylene glycol (ChCl:EG) with 1% H 2 SO 4 was washed with an water–acetone mixture and then subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis with the direct addition of water and enzymes. However, it is inconsistent with the original procedure, where the citrate was used as a buffer .…”

Technological development of the bio‐based 2,3‐butanediol process

“…In a recent study, a biomass conversion process resulting from the pretreatment of high‐load deep eutectic solvent was carried out for the production of 2,3‐BDO, furfural, and lignin. The MSP was estimated at 1.703–1.736 $ kg −1 , about half the current 2,3‐BDO market price 102 . The MSP (minimum selling price) can also be based on the utility costs for certain raw materials.…”