Techno-Economic Analysis for Bioethanol Plant with Multi Lignocellulosic Feedstocks

Oil palm empty fruit bunch and trunk are classified as primary lignocellulosic residues from the palm oil industry. They are considered to be promising feedstocks for bioconversion into value-added products such as bioethanol. However, using these lignocellulos ic materials to produce bio ethanol remains a significant challenge for small and medium enterprises. Hence, techno-economic and sensitivity analys es of bioethanol plant simultaneously treating these materials were performed in this study . The information based on preliminary experimental data in batch operations w as employe d to develop a simulation of an industrial-scale semi-continuous production process. Calculation s of mass balance , equipment sizes , and production cost estimation of the production plant of various capacities ranging from 10,000 L/day to 35,000 L/day were summarized. The result based on 20 years of operation indicated that the n et p resent v alue of the plant of lower capacities was negative. However, this v alue became positive when the plant operated with a higher capacity, 35,000 L/day. The highest ethanol yield, 294.84 L EtOH /ton feedstock , was produced when the plant treated only an empty fruit bunch generating 8.94% i nternal r ate of r eturn and US $ 0.54 production cost per unit. Moreover , the higher oil palm trunk ratio in the feedstock, the lowe r ethanol yield contributing to the highe r production cost per unit . ©2020. CBIORE-IJRED. All rights reserved