Techno-economics and environmental assessment of sorbitol and itaconic acid production from sugarcane-based feedstock

• Published in: Chemical engineering science 2024-11, Vol.299, p.120431, Article 120431
• Main Authors: van Heerden, Cara, Bosman, Catharine Elizabeth, Farzad, Somayeh, Görgens, Johann Ferdinand
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aspen Plus® simulation; Bio-based itaconic acid; Biorefinery; Environmental assessment; Sorbitol; Techno-economic analysis
• ISSN: 0009-2509
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2024.120431

•Five sugarcane mill-annexed biorefinery scenarios were developed.•Co-production of sorbitol and mannitol from 1G feedstock was profitable.•Itaconic acid production was unprofitable from both 1G and 1G2G feedstock.•Itaconic acid production was energy-intensive with prolonged fermentation times.•Sorbitol production had lower environmental impact than itaconic acid production. Production of sorbitol or itaconic acid from sugarcane feedstocks in energy self-sufficient biorefinery scenarios were investigated, via Aspen Plus® simulations, techno-economic and environmental assessments. Sorbitol co-produced with fructose from A-molasses had a minimum selling price (MSP) (0.81 $/kg) similar to technical-grade sorbitol market prices (0.5 to 1.1$/kg), and an internal rate of return (IRR) of 19.65%. Sorbitol co-produced with mannitol from A-molasses had a lower MSP (0.48 $/kg), below food-grade sorbitol prices (0.58$/kg) and a higher IRR (23.63%). Combining A-molasses with lignocelluloses for the co-production of sorbitol and mannitol increased the MSP (0.63 $/kg) above the market price and decreased the IRR (18.46%). This scenario also had greenhouse gas emissions lower than that of its A-molasses only counterpart, mainly due to the method of hydrogen production. Itaconic acid production from sugarcane feedstocks in similar scenarios was unattractive due to lower IRRs (4.49% to 11.61%).