Techno-economic evaluation of 2nd generation bioethanol production from sugar cane bagasse and leaves integrated with the sugar-based ethanol process

Biotechnology for Biofuels

Stefano Macrelli¹  Johan Mogensen²  Guido Zacchi¹ 

[1] Department of Chemical Engineering - Lund University, P.O. Box 124, S-22100 Lund, Sweden

[2] Novozymes A/S, Krogshoejvej 36, Bagsvaerd DK-2880, Denmark

关键词: Minimum ethanol selling price;    Production cost;    Techno-economic evaluation;    Simulation;    Bagasse;    Sugar cane;    Lignocellulose;    Advanced biofuel;    Second-generation ethanol;    Bioethanol;   

Others  :  798317
DOI  :  10.1186/1754-6834-5-22

 received in 2011-12-18, accepted in 2012-04-13,  发布年份 2012

【 摘 要 】

Background

Bioethanol produced from the lignocellulosic fractions of sugar cane (bagasse and leaves), i.e. second generation (2G) bioethanol, has a promising market potential as an automotive fuel; however, the process is still under investigation on pilot/demonstration scale. From a process perspective, improvements in plant design can lower the production cost, providing better profitability and competitiveness if the conversion of the whole sugar cane is considered. Simulations have been performed with AspenPlus to investigate how process integration can affect the minimum ethanol selling price of this 2G process (MESP-2G), as well as improve the plant energy efficiency. This is achieved by integrating the well-established sucrose-to-bioethanol process with the enzymatic process for lignocellulosic materials. Bagasse and leaves were steam pretreated using H₃PO₄ as catalyst and separately hydrolysed and fermented.

Results

The addition of a steam dryer, doubling of the enzyme dosage in enzymatic hydrolysis, including leaves as raw material in the 2G process, heat integration and the use of more energy-efficient equipment led to a 37% reduction in MESP-2G compared to the Base case. Modelling showed that the MESP for 2G ethanol was 0.97 US$/L, while in the future it could be reduced to 0.78 US$/L. In this case the overall production cost of 1G + 2G ethanol would be about 0.40 US$/L with an output of 102 L/ton dry sugar cane including 50% leaves. Sensitivity analysis of the future scenario showed that a 50% decrease in the cost of enzymes, electricity or leaves would lower the MESP-2G by about 20%, 10% and 4.5%, respectively.

Conclusions

According to the simulations, the production of 2G bioethanol from sugar cane bagasse and leaves in Brazil is already competitive (without subsidies) with 1G starch-based bioethanol production in Europe. Moreover 2G bioethanol could be produced at a lower cost if subsidies were used to compensate for the opportunity cost from the sale of excess electricity and if the cost of enzymes continues to fall.

【 授权许可】

   
2012 Macrelli et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

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