TY - JOUR
T1 - A systems level analysis of ethanol upgrading strategies to middle distillates
AU - Restrepo-Flórez, Juan Manuel
AU - Ryu, Joonjae
AU - Witkowski, Dustin
AU - Rothamer, David A.
AU - Maravelias, Christos T.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Royal Society of Chemistry.
PY - 2022/9/8
Y1 - 2022/9/8
N2 - We systematically study the upgrading of ethanol toward middle distillates with desired properties. To survey the large design space, we introduce a novel superstructure-based optimization framework integrating process design and fuel formulation. We show that biorefineries that produce middle distillates by upgrading lignocellulosic ethanol can have an energy return on investment (EROI) greater than 1. Additionally, we show that technological improvements can lead to significant increases in EROI. Furthermore, trade-offs between fuel properties and biorefinery profitability are established, showing how process economics are strongly influenced by fuel properties. In the case of diesel, the feasibility of producing high cetane number biofuels is demonstrated, coupled with a discussion of the technological requirements and costs to produce these superior fuels. It is also shown that the minimum fuel selling price (MFSP) can be reduced by increasing the biorefinery complexity. Finally, we discuss the possibility of satisfying current and projected middle distillate demand in the U.S. using biofuels produced by ethanol upgrading, and we estimate the potential CO2 mitigation of these technologies.
AB - We systematically study the upgrading of ethanol toward middle distillates with desired properties. To survey the large design space, we introduce a novel superstructure-based optimization framework integrating process design and fuel formulation. We show that biorefineries that produce middle distillates by upgrading lignocellulosic ethanol can have an energy return on investment (EROI) greater than 1. Additionally, we show that technological improvements can lead to significant increases in EROI. Furthermore, trade-offs between fuel properties and biorefinery profitability are established, showing how process economics are strongly influenced by fuel properties. In the case of diesel, the feasibility of producing high cetane number biofuels is demonstrated, coupled with a discussion of the technological requirements and costs to produce these superior fuels. It is also shown that the minimum fuel selling price (MFSP) can be reduced by increasing the biorefinery complexity. Finally, we discuss the possibility of satisfying current and projected middle distillate demand in the U.S. using biofuels produced by ethanol upgrading, and we estimate the potential CO2 mitigation of these technologies.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85139831689&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1039/d2ee02202h
DO - 10.1039/d2ee02202h
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85139831689
SN - 1754-5692
VL - 15
SP - 4376
EP - 4388
JO - Energy and Environmental Science
JF - Energy and Environmental Science
IS - 10
ER -