Techno-Economic Analysis of Forest Residue Conversion to Sugar Using Three-Stage Milling as Pretreatment

Abstract

This study quantifies the cost of cellulosic sugar production using a fully-mechanical pretreatment process and fuel pellets as a co-product. The pretreatment reduces softwood forest harvest residuals to micron-sized amorphous particles. Energy consumption is minimized using a three-stage milling process. A techno-economic analysis was completed for a milling facility with saccharification and wood pellet manufacture. For the base case, concentrated sugar syrup can be produced for $0.496/kg of sugar. Sensitivity analyses were used to determine cost controlling variables, optimize the sugar cost and found that siting for this technology needs to strongly consider electricity cost and to a lesser extent local feedstock availability. If the sugar produced in this process is used to generate biofuel and is qualified for RIN credits through a life-cycle analysis, the effective cost could be reduced

Insight into Pretreatment Methods of Lignocellulosic Biomass to Increase Biogas Yield: Current State, Challenges, and Opportunities

“…The results showed an estimated sugar production costs of ($/kg) 0.43, 0.42, 0.65, and 1.41 for steam explosion, dilute sulfuric acid, ammonia fiber explosion, and biological (enzymatic hydrolysis) pretreatments, respectively. On the other hand, Brandt et al [190] provided economic analysis for converting softwood biomass into sugars using a fully mechanical pretreatment, using a three-stage milling process. The concentrated sugar syrup production cost was estimated in $0.496/kg of sugar.…”

Techno-economic analysis for manufacturing cross-laminated timber

“…However, working capital was used to cover expenses to run a facility when the cash flow did not meet the needs (Peters et al 2003). For that reason, working capital was assumed to be 20% of the yearly operating costs (Brandt et al 2018). Peters et al 2003, b Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (IRS 2017), c FCI ratio factor for a greenfield solid processing plant A nominal financial analysis was utilized following the method outlined by Petter and Tyner (2014) and Brandt et al (2018).…”

Advanced Hardwood Biofuels Northwest: Commercialization Challenges for the Renewable Aviation Fuel Industry

“…Complications also arise when harvesters are operated at excessive speeds (e.g., speeds greater than 8 km per hour) as sawing efficiency is lost partially dislodging the root stock and tearing or shattering stools to the point that coppice regeneration is impacted. Alternatively, two comments from the panel addressed the issue improved pre-treatment processing by optimizing piece-size specifications: (1) A three-stage milling pretreatment process has shown to lower the processing costs of forest residuals and may be applicable to poplar [40], and (2) AHB on the other hand has determined that the effectiveness of pre-treating poplar chips with steam explosion now appears to be insensitive to chip size.…”