Economic and environmental assessment of n-butanol production in an integrated first and second generation sugarcane biorefinery: Fermentative versus catalytic routes

Author(s)

Pereira, L. G. ^[1] ; Dias, M. O. S. ^[2] ; Mariano, A. P. ^[3] ; Maciel Filho, R. ^{[1, 3]} ; Bonomi, A. ^{[1, 3]}

Affiliation

^[1] Brazilian Ctr Res Energy & Mat CNPEM, Brazilian Bioethanol Sci & Technol Lab CTBE, BR-13083970 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[2] Fed Univ Sao Paulo ICT UNIFESP, Inst Sci & Technol, Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Campinas UN1CAMP, Sch Chem Engn, Campinas, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: APPLIED ENERGY; v. 160, p. 120-131, DEC 15 2015.
• Web of Science Citations: 33

Abstract

n-Butanol produced from renewable resources has attracted increasing interest, mostly for its potential use as liquid biofuel for transportation. Process currently used in the industry (Acetone-Butanol-Ethanol fermentation - ABE) faces major technical challenges, which could be overcome by an alternative production through ethanol catalysis. In this study, both routes are evaluated by means of their financial viabilities and environmental performance assessed through the Virtual Sugarcane Biorefinery methodological framework. Comparative financial analysis of the routes integrated to a first and second generation sugarcane biorefinery shows that, despite the drawbacks, ABE process for fermentation of the pentoses liquor is more attractive than the catalysis of ethanol to n-butanol and co-products. n-Butanol use as fuel demonstrated favorable environmental results for climate change as figures showed over 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emission compared with gasoline. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/15192-0 - Economic and environmental multi-criteria approach to assess the viability of the biobutanol production in a Brazilian sugarcane biorefinery
• Grantee: Lucas Gonçalves Pereira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral