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Article
Techno-economic Analysis of Monosaccharide Production via Biomass Fast Pyrolysis
Bioresource Technology
  • Yanan Zhang, Iowa State University
  • Tristan Brown, Iowa State University
  • Guiping Hu, Iowa State University
  • Robert C. Brown, Iowa State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Accepted Manuscript
Publication Date
1-1-2013
DOI
10.1016/j.biortech.2012.09.070
Abstract

The economic feasibility of a facility producing monosaccharides, hydrogen and transportation fuels via fast pyrolysis and upgrading pathway was evaluated by modeling a 2000 dry metric ton biomass/day facility using Aspen Plus®. Equipment sizing and cost were based on Aspen Economic Evaluation® software. The results indicate that monosaccharide production capacity could reach 338 metric tons/day. Co-product yields of hydrogen and gasoline were 23.4 and 141 metric tons/day, respectively. The total installed equipment and total capital costs were estimated to be $210 million and $326 million, respectively. A facility internal rate of return (IRR) of 11.4% based on market prices of $3.33/kg hydrogen, $2.92/gal gasoline and diesel, $0.64/kg monosaccharide was calculated. Sensitivity analysis demonstrates that fixed capital cost, feedstock cost, product yields, and product credits have the greatest impacts on facility IRR. Further research is needed to optimize yield of sugar via the proposed process to improve economic feasibility.

Comments

NOTICE: This is the author's version of a work that was accepted for publication in Bioresource Technology. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Bioresource Technology, 127 (2013): doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.09.070.

Copyright Owner
Elsevier
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Yanan Zhang, Tristan Brown, Guiping Hu and Robert C. Brown. "Techno-economic Analysis of Monosaccharide Production via Biomass Fast Pyrolysis" Bioresource Technology Vol. 127 (2013) p. 358 - 365
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/robert_brown/12/