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Model quantification of the effect of coproducts and refinery co-hydrotreating on the economics and greenhouse gas emissions of a conceptual biomass catalytic fast pyrolysis process

Journal Article · · Chemical Engineering Journal
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  1. National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
  2. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Lemont, IL (United States)
  3. Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
  4. Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
+ Show Author Affiliations

Here we present model results for a scaled-up conceptual process informed by bench scale biomass catalytic fast pyrolysis (CFP) and hydrotreating experimental data. This process uses a Pt/TiO2 catalyst during CFP, which produces a partially deoxygenated organic biocrude intermediate that is then hydroprocessed to a hydrocarbon fuel blendstock; the catalyst also enables high yields of acetone and methyl-ethyl-ketone (MEK) coproducts. Two options for hydroprocessing were modeled: (A) co-hydrotreating at a petroleum refinery using hydrogen sourced from steam reforming of natural gas and (B) standalone hydrotreating at a biorefinery using hydrogen sourced from CFP off gases. The results revealed that Case A was economically advantageous with a modeled minimum fuel selling price (MFSP) of $$\$$$$2.83/GGE or gallon gasoline equivalent (in 2016 US dollars), while the additional cost of standalone hydrotreating facilities in Case B increased the MFSP to $3.13/GGE. Conversely, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were lower for Case B (3.9 g CO2e/MJ) compared to Case A (21.5 g CO2e/MJ) due to the use of biogenic (Case B) and fossil-derived (Case A) hydrogen. In a third option (Case C), the requirements for separation and purification of acetone and MEK were removed from the refinery co-processing scenario (Case A) to evaluate the impacts of this process simplification. Elimination of these coproducts increased the MFSP to $3.21/GGE and GHG emissions to 35 g CO2e/MJ. These comparisons based on our detailed conceptual models provide economic and sustainability guidance regarding processing choices for future biorefineries. While refinery coprocessing using existing equipment and the production of relatively valuable coproducts can benefit the economics, the hydrogen-source and biogenic coproducts can have significant impacts on the sustainability of the process, and feasibility to use CFP off-gases or other renewable sources for hydrogen production can help lower GHG emissions.

Research Organization:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States); Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States); Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States); Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Transportation Office. Bioenergy Technologies Office
Grant/Contract Number:
AC36-08GO28308; AC02-06CH11357; AC07-05ID14517; AC06-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
1883377
Report Number(s):
NREL/JA-5100-82459; MainId:83232; UUID:6b261e03-5c41-4254-ae86-ee6a1b7a1328; MainAdminID:64321
Journal Information:
Chemical Engineering Journal, Journal Name: Chemical Engineering Journal Journal Issue: Part 1 Vol. 451; ISSN 1385-8947
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (9)

Conceptual Process Design and Techno-Economic Assessment of Ex Situ Catalytic Fast Pyrolysis of Biomass: A Fixed Bed Reactor Implementation Scenario for Future Feasibility journal October 2015
A Modified UNIFAC (Dortmund) Model. 4. Revision and Extension journal March 2002
Pilot-scale validation of Co-ZSM-5 catalyst performance in the catalytic upgrading of biomass pyrolysis vapours journal January 2014
Reactive catalytic fast pyrolysis of biomass to produce high-quality bio-crude journal January 2017
Driving towards cost-competitive biofuels through catalytic fast pyrolysis by rethinking catalyst selection and reactor configuration journal January 2018
An improved catalytic pyrolysis concept for renewable aromatics from biomass involving a recycling strategy for co-produced polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons journal January 2019
Process Design and Economics for the Conversion of Lignocellulosic Biomass to Hydrocarbon Fuels. Thermochemical Research Pathways with In Situ and Ex Situ Upgrading of Fast Pyrolysis Vapors report March 2015
Ex Situ Catalytic Fast Pyrolysis of Lignocellulosic Biomass to Hydrocarbon Fuels: 2020 State of Technology report June 2021
Summary of Expansions and Updates in GREET® 2021 report October 2021

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Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
biomass catalytic fast pyrolysis
biorefinery coproducts
catalytic fast pyrolysis
greenhouse gas emissions
life cycle analysis
refinery coprocessing
techno-economic analysis