The lignocellulosic biomass can be used as a raw material for power plants, biorefineries, biogas plants (co-fermentation). The environmental benefits can derive mostly from the use of biomass in systems for the production of bio-based products (e.g., biofuels). Another essential environmental aspect is the supply of the biomass without high emissions to transport the raw material from the collection place to plants place. Technical and environmental assessment analyzes are necessary to identify the best benefits of the technologies (usually suitable for large plant sizes) and of optimized local supply systems (usually convenient for small plant sizes with short transportation supply chain). In this work, an optimization methodology based on process simulation and supply chain analysis is proposed for the bio-based system of the Basilicata Region. The Basilicata Region is rich in residual biomass (straw) which is currently not valorized. Process simulation software Aspen Plus was used to build a process simulation model to evaluate the technical feasibility of using straw in two biorefinery systems: lignocellulosic biorefinery producing bioethanol and co-feeding to existing biogas plants to produce biomethane. A model based on p-median problem solver included in the ArcGis 10 Network Analyst extension was used to evaluate the optimal position of a lignocellulosic biorefinery or the optimal quantities of straw to be transported to biogas plants to produce biomethane. Main results show he bioethanol production leads to high CO2 emission savings thanks to higher CO2 absorption by lignocellulosic biomass and the green electricity coproduction. The co-digestion of pretreated lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks leads to high-density fuels production, but globally to lower CO2-equivalent savings for GJ produced.
Techno-environmental assessment of two biorefinery systems to valorize the residual lignocellulosic biomass of the Basilicata Region
Giuliano A.;Motola V.;Pierro N.;Giocoli A.;
2019-01-01
Abstract
The lignocellulosic biomass can be used as a raw material for power plants, biorefineries, biogas plants (co-fermentation). The environmental benefits can derive mostly from the use of biomass in systems for the production of bio-based products (e.g., biofuels). Another essential environmental aspect is the supply of the biomass without high emissions to transport the raw material from the collection place to plants place. Technical and environmental assessment analyzes are necessary to identify the best benefits of the technologies (usually suitable for large plant sizes) and of optimized local supply systems (usually convenient for small plant sizes with short transportation supply chain). In this work, an optimization methodology based on process simulation and supply chain analysis is proposed for the bio-based system of the Basilicata Region. The Basilicata Region is rich in residual biomass (straw) which is currently not valorized. Process simulation software Aspen Plus was used to build a process simulation model to evaluate the technical feasibility of using straw in two biorefinery systems: lignocellulosic biorefinery producing bioethanol and co-feeding to existing biogas plants to produce biomethane. A model based on p-median problem solver included in the ArcGis 10 Network Analyst extension was used to evaluate the optimal position of a lignocellulosic biorefinery or the optimal quantities of straw to be transported to biogas plants to produce biomethane. Main results show he bioethanol production leads to high CO2 emission savings thanks to higher CO2 absorption by lignocellulosic biomass and the green electricity coproduction. The co-digestion of pretreated lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks leads to high-density fuels production, but globally to lower CO2-equivalent savings for GJ produced.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
