Life-cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis of the production of wood vinegar from Eucommia stem: a case study

Abstract

This research undertook a case study of the life-cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis of the slow pyrolysis of Eucommia stem for the production of wood vinegar and activated carbon. The results showed that the production of one ton of wood vinegar via the slow pyrolysis of Eucommia stem show comparatively low global warming potential (2.37 × 10² kg CO₂ eq), primary energy demand (3.16 × 10³ MJ), acidification potential (2.19 kg SO₂ eq), antimony depletion potential (3.86 × 10^–4 kg antimony eq), and ozone depletion potential (7.46 × 10^–6 kg CFC-11 eq) and was more environmentally friendly than the production of dilute acetic acid (12 wt %) via petrochemical routes. Meanwhile, the total capital investment, total product cost, and cash flowsheet were provided in the techno-economic analysis. Then, the net present value, internal rate of return, and dynamic payback period of the production process were evaluated. The findings indicated that while this production process is cost-effective, it might not be economically attractive or could generate investment risks. An increase in the added value of the wood vinegar and the activated carbon could remarkably improve the economic feasibility of this production process.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

life-cycle assessment / techno-economic analysis / wood vinegar / activated carbon / Eucommia

References

[1] Shang H, Fu Q, Zhang S, Zhu X. Heating temperature dependence of molecular characteristics and biological response for biomass pyrolysis volatile derived water dissolved organic matter. Science of the Total Environment, 2021, 757(2): 143749

[2] Sun S, Gao Z T, Li Z C, Li Y, Gao J L, Yuan Jun C, Li H, Liu X Y, Wang Z M. Effect of wood vinegar on adsorption and desorption of four kinds of heavy (loid) metals adsorbents. Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry, 2020, 48(2): e20013–e20020

[3] Xu J, Zhang S, Shi Y, Zhang P, Huang D, Lin C, Wu Y. Upgrading the wood vinegar prepared from the pyrolysis of biomass wastes by hydrothermal pretreatment. Energy, 2021, 244(4): 122631

[4] Wang C, Zhang S, Wu S, Sun M, Lyu J. Multi purpose production with valorization of wood vinegar and briquette fuels from wood sawdust by hydrothermal process. Fuel, 2020, 282(12): 118775

[5] Zhang Y, Wang X, Liu B, Liu Q, Zheng H, You X, Sun K, Luo X, Li F. Comparative study of individual and Co application of biochar and wood vinegar on blueberry fruit yield and nutritional quality. Chemosphere, 2020, 246(5): 125699

[6] Fan Q, Li Y, Zhao Y, Xu H, Chen L, Hua D. Anaerobic digestion coupled with three dimensional iron carbon electrolysis for enhanced treatment of wood vinegar wastewater and bacterial structure changes. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2020, 267(12): 122095

[7] Brassard P, Godbout S, Hamelin L. Framework for consequential life cycle assessment of pyrolysis biorefineries: a case study for the conversion of primary forestry residues. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2021, 138(3): 110549

[8] Venderbosch R H, Prins W. Fast pyrolysis technology development. Biofuels, Bioproducts & Biorefining, 2010, 4(2): 178–208

[9] Chen Y H, Li Y F, Wei H, Li X X, Zheng H T, Dong X Y, Xu T F, Meng J F. Inhibition efficiency of wood vinegar on grey mould of table grapes. Food Bioscience, 2020, 38(12): 100755

[10] Xu X, Jiang E. Hydrogen from wood vinegar via catalytic reforming over Ni/Ce/γ Al₂O₃ catalyst. Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, 2014, 107(5): 1–8

[11] Miao Z, Hu Z, Jiang E, Ma X. Hydrogen rich syngas production by chemical looping reforming on crude wood vinegar using Ni modified HY zeolite oxygen carrier. Fuel, 2020, 279(11): 118547

[12] Thorne R J, Bouman E A, Guerreiro C B B, Majchrzak A, Calus S. Using life cycle assessment to inform municipal climate mitigation planning. Energy Policy, 2019, 129(6): 173–181

[13] Beagle E, Belmont E. Comparative life cycle assessment of biomass utilization for electricity generation in the European Union and the United States. Energy Policy, 2019, 128(5): 267–275

[14] Chen B, Yang S, Cao Q, Qian Y. Life cycle economic assessment of coal chemical wastewater treatment facing the ‘Zero liquid discharge’ industrial water policies in China: discharge or reuse?. Energy Policy, 2020, 137(2): 111107

[15] Siddiqui O, Dincer I. A comparative life cycle assessment of clean aviation fuels. Energy, 2021, 234(11): 121126

[16] Wang W C, Liu Y C, Nugroho R A A. Techno economic analysis of renewable jet fuel production: the comparison between Fischer–Tropsch synthesis and pyrolysis. Energy, 2022, 239(1): 121970

[17] Kim J, Kim J, Oh H, Lee S, Lee I B, Yoon Y S. Techno economic and environmental impact analysis of tuyere injection of hot reducing gas from low rank coal gasification in blast furnace. Energy, 2021, 241(2): 122908

[18] Lepage T, Kammoun M, Schmetz Q, Richel A. Biomass to hydrogen: a review of main routes production, processes evaluation and techno economical assessment. Biomass and Bioenergy, 2021, 144(1): 105920

[19] Zhang Y, Brown T R, Hu G, Brown R C. Techno economic analysis of monosaccharide production via fast pyrolysis of lignocellulose. Bioresource Technology, 2013, 127(1): 358–365

[20] Jackson R W, Neto A B F, Erfanian E. Woody biomass processing: potential economic impacts on rural regions. Energy Policy, 2018, 115(4): 66–77

[21] Hammond J, Shackley S, Sohi S, Brownsort P. Prospective life cycle carbon abatement for pyrolysis biochar systems in the UK. Energy Policy, 2011, 39(5): 2646–2655

[22] Cheng F W, Luo H X, Colosi L M. Slow pyrolysis as a platform for negative emissions technology: an integration of machine learning models, life cycle assessment, and economic analysis. Energy Conversion and Management, 2020, 223(11): 113258

[23] Wang M, Huo H, Arora S. Methods of dealing with co products of biofuels in life cycle analysis and consequent results within the U.S. context. Energy Policy, 2011, 39(10): 5726–5736

[24] Wong A, Zhang H, Kumar A. Life cycle water footprint of hydrogenation derived renewable diesel production from lignocellulosic biomass. Water Research, 2016, 102: 330–345

[25] Czernik S, Bridgwater A V. Overview of applications of biomass fast pyrolysis oil. Energy & Fuels, 2004, 18(2): 590–598

[26] KobeK A. Plant Design and Economics for Chemical Engineers. New York: McGraw Hill, 1991, 137–150

[27] Hjaila K, Baccar R, Sarra M, Gasol C M, Blanquez P. Environmental impact associated with activated carbon preparation from olive waste cake via life cycle assessment. Journal of Environmental Management, 2013, 130(11): 242–247

[28] Arena N, Lee J, Clift R. Life Cycle Assessment of activated carbon production from coconut shells. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2016, 125(7): 68–77

[29] Wright M, Brown R C. Establishing the optimal sizes of different kinds of biorefineries. Biofuels, Bioproducts & Biorefining, 2010, 1(3): 191–200

[30] Zhang Y, Brown T R, Hu G, Brown R C. Techno economic analysis of monosaccharide production via fast pyrolysis of lignocellulose. Bioresource Technology, 2013, 127: 358–365

[31] Zheng J L, Zhu Y H, Zhu M Q, Sun G T, Sun R C. Life cycle assessment and techno economic analysis of the utilization of bio oil components for the production of three chemicals. Green Chemistry, 2018, 20(14): 3287–3301

[32] Rodrigues M F F, Sousa I M O, Vardanega R, Nogueira G C, Meireles M A A, Foglio M A, Marchese J A. Techno economic evaluation of artemisinin extraction from Artemisia annua L. using supercritical carbon dioxide. Industrial Crops and Products, 2019, 132(6): 336–343

[33] Sayar N A, Durmaz Şam S, Pinar O, Serper D, Sarıyar Akbulut B, Kazan D, Sayar A A. Techno economic analysis of caffeine and catechins production from black tea waste. Food and Bioproducts Processing, 2019, 118(11): 1–12

[34] Nezammahalleh H, Adams T A II, Ghanati F, Nosrati M, Shojaosadati S A. Techno economic and environmental assessment of conceptually designed in situ lipid extraction process from microalgae. Algal Research, 2018, 35(11): 547–560

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to express their gratitude for the financial supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2018YFE0127000), the Young Tip-top Talent Project of Science and Technology Innovation by State Forestry and Grassland Administration of China (Grant No. 2019132616), the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Drive Project of Shaanxi Province (Grant Nos. NYKJ-2021-YLXN15, K3030821093), the Forestry Science and Technology Development Project by State Forestry and Grassland Administration of China (Grant No. KJZXZZ2019005).

Electronic Supplementary Material

Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at https://doi.org/10.1007/s11705-022-2296-2 and is accessible for authorized users.

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2023 Higher Education Press