This study assesses the techno-economic performance of production lines for obtaining 1,3-butadiene and ε-caprolactam from C6 sugars. Process models were developed to assess their technical performance and to derive inputs for economic analysis. The economic assessment was carried out using net present value (NPV) and production costs as indicators. Sensitivity analyses were carried out to account for the effects of variations in inputs, such as processing capacity, valorization of humins, and prices, on the economic outputs. Results indicate that both production lines perform similarly from an energy intensity point of view (34-50 MJ/kg of main product). However, in terms of yield (kg of product per kg C6 sugar), caprolactam shows higher values by a factor of 1.6-3.6 in comparison to that of butadiene. The butadiene production line is not economically attractive, showing a negative NPV (-647 to -642 M€) and production costs 3-5 times higher than the reference market price (Case I 4369 €/tonne, Case II 3406 €/tonne). The caprolactam production line seems to be unfeasible with negative NPV (-229 M€) and production costs 30% higher than the reference price (Case III 2595 €/tonne, Case IV 1875 €/tonne). However, if the production yield is increased, the caprolactam production line becomes economically attractive with production costs 6% lower than its reference market price. The production costs of caprolactam can be further decreased if the process capacity is increased, reflecting the benefits of the economies of scale, as well as including heat and power produced from humins. Overall, the caprolactam production line shows higher economic potential.

This study assesses the techno-economic and environmental performance of C6 sugars production from softwood (spruce) and corn. Two technologies were considered in the assessment: organosolv of spruce woodchips (2nd generation) and corn wet milling (1st generation). Process models were developed to generate relevant data to assess the technical performance and derive inputs for the economic and environmental assessments. The economic assessment was carried out using Net Present Value (NPV) as indicator, while the environmental assessment followed a prospective cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) for 5 impact categories. The results indicate that when organosolv is integrated with an anaerobic digestion unit, the net energy requirements are lower than those of the wet milling process to produce an equivalent flowrate of C6 sugars. Assuming equivalent C6 sugar prices for the two technologies (300 €/t), the corn based technology shows positive NPV (178 M€) and lowest fixed capital investment requirements (55 M€). The organosolv technology (coupled to anaerobic digestion) also shows positive NPV (238 M€) at base case lignin prices (630 €/t), but higher fixed capital investment needs (236 M€). The economics of the organosolv process were found to be highly sensitive to sugar and lignin yields and prices as well as biomass feedstock costs. From an environmental perspective, the organosolv based routes show relatively better performance than corn wet milling, with 3 categories including climate change and non-renewable energy use showing lower impacts and 2 showing potentially higher impacts. Overall, the organosolv process (2nd generation) shows better performance from an environmental point of view in addition to a positive NPV. However, the inherent risks of new technologies and high investments associated with the 2nd generation technologies assessed in this work, mean that significant additional development, coupled with appropriate government support, are likely necessary before full-scale implementation.

An early stage assessment method is applied to the production of isobutanol from lignocellulosic biomass, and to three multiproduct portfolios from the conversion of isobutanol: Case 1: production of isobutyl acetate and glycerol tert-butyl ether (GTBE), Case 2: production of isobutyl acetate and ketones, and Case 3: production of isobutyl acetate alkanes. The method screens and compares each route with its equivalent petrochemical counterpart. The method is composed by different indicators involving economic and environmental aspects. Sensitivity analyses were carried out to account for variation in prices, weighting factors and distribution of isobutanol to isobutyl acetate (in multiproduct portfolios). Results show that bio-based isobutanol has advantages over fossil-based isobutanol. In multiproduct systems, case 1 performs better, followed by cases 2 and 3. Screening using economic or environmental aspects show to have a significant effect on the results, where bio-based systems tend to perform better when environmental aspects are included.

This study aims to identify potential bio-based derivatives from the conversion of platform chemicals at early design phases. To do this, an existing early-stage sustainability assessment method was extended, to cover both catalytic and biochemical conversion processes in biorefinery systems. The method combines proxy indicators describing economic, environmental, and operational aspects. Conversion routes are analyzed by using three case studies: catalytic conversion of bio-based syngas to derivatives with petrochemical counterpart (16 systems), biochemical conversion of carbohydrates to derivatives with petrochemical counterpart (12 systems), and biochemical and catalytic conversion of glycerol to derivatives with petrochemical counterpart (8 systems). The indicators were combined into a single score, and then compared to a petrochemical counterpart. Sensitivity analysis was carried-out to analyze the influence of conversion yields and prices on the index ratio. Furthermore, scenario analyses were conducted to account for three different regions (the EU, the USA, and China). Results confirmed the successful application of the method to processes that considered catalytic and/or biochemical conversion processes. The method showed to be an effective tool for the selection of bio-based derivatives with favorable potential sustainability performances in comparison to their petrochemical counterparts. The results show two systems from syngas, five systems from carbohydrates, and seven systems from glycerol as favorable. The results serve as a primary database to draw recommendations on e.g., future configurations of integrated biorefineries.