Feasibility of the Conversion of Sugarcane Molasses to Levulinic Acid: Reaction Optimization and Techno-Economic Analysis

Author(s)

Lopes, Emilia Savioli ^[1] ; Leal Silva, Jean Felipe ^[1] ; do Nascimento, Leticia Araujo ^[2] ; Cuadros Bohorquez, Jose Fernando ^[1] ; Lopes, Melina Savioli ^[3] ; Tovar, Laura Plazas ^[2] ; Maciel Filho, Rubens ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Campinas, Sch Chem Engn, BR-13083852 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Chem Engn, BR-09913030 Diadema, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Alfenas, Dept Chem Engn, BR-37715400 Pocos De Caldas, MG - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research; v. 60, n. 43, p. 15646-15657, NOV 3 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

The levulinic acid chemical platform is still unfeasible due to the lack of a cost-competitive process. Therefore, this work investigates the conversion of sugarcane molasses to levulinic acid. A design of experiments was used to optimize temperature, sulfuric acid loading in aqueous solution, and the ratio of sulfuric acid solution to sugarcane molasses via a genetic algorithm-based multiobjective optimization. Optimized results indicated that a yield of levulinic acid of 83.8 mol % is attainable with a concentration of 129 g L-1. Based on these optimized conditions, a biorefinery was simulated to produce sugar, ethanol, electricity, and levulinic acid (all sugarcane molasses converted to levulinic acid). A techno-economic analysis of the simulation results showed that an internal rate of return of 33.1% is attainable at the current market price of levulinic acid, and the calculated minimum selling price of levulinic acid (\$0.679 kg(-1)) indicates that many other applications might be possible for this renewable chemical. Overall, the results showed that using sugarcane molasses in the production of levulinic acid is both cost-competitive and technically feasible. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/20630-4 - Biorefinery development integrated to a bioethanol sugar cane plant with zero CO2 emission: routes to convert renewable resources to bio-products and bio-electricity
• Grantee: Rubens Maciel Filho
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 15/17592-3 - Production optimization and obtainment of levulinic acid from sugarcane bagasse and molasses
• Grantee: Emília Savioli Lopes
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 16/10450-1 - Process development for sugarcane conversion to ethyl levulinate: a route for a viable biodiesel additive
• Grantee: Jean Felipe Leal Silva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master