Production of Bacillus thuringiensis based biopesticide formulation using starch industry wastewater (SIW) as substrate: A techno-economic evaluation

• Published in: Bioresource technology 2019-12, Vol.294, p.122144-122144, Article 122144
• Main Authors: Kumar, Lalit R., Ndao, Adama, Valéro, Jose, Tyagi, R.D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bacillus thuringiensis; Biopesticide; Economic evaluation; Profitability analysis; Starch industry wastewater (SIW)
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.122144

[Display omitted] •Unit production cost of biopesticide production process was estimated to be $ 2.54/L.•For 5 million L plant capacity, payback period is < 3 years.•Unit cost of biopesticide was competitive to chemical pesticides. In this study, cost simulation was made to produce Bacillus thuriengiensis based biopesticide formulation using starch industry wastewater (SIW) as substrate. The results obtained at pilot plant (2000L capacity fermenter) were used for cost simulation of the process. The unit production cost for annual production of 5 million L of formulated biopesticide (20.2 Billion International Units (BIU)/L) was estimated to be $ 2.54/L, which is competitive to chemical pesticides. The techno-economic evaluation revealed that the profitability of the biopesticide manufacturing process was sensitive to the plant capacity and selling price of the biopesticide. The manufacturer should target 5 million L annual plant capacity and selling price of $ 15/L for payback period to be less than 5 years. The process serves many advantages (1) alternate disposal or bio-valorisation of industry wastewater and (2) use of industry wastewater as inexpensive carbon source reducing cost of raw materials for fermentation.