| Title |
Ectoine Production from Biogas in Waste Treatment Facilities: A Techno-Economic and Sensitivity Analysis |
| ID_Doc |
10450 |
| Authors |
Pérez, V; Moltó, JL; Lebrero, R; Muñoz, R |
| Title |
Ectoine Production from Biogas in Waste Treatment Facilities: A Techno-Economic and Sensitivity Analysis |
| Year |
2021 |
| Published |
Acs Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 9, 51 |
| DOI |
10.1021/acssuschemeng.1c06772 |
| Abstract |
The capacity of haloalkaliphilic methanotrophic bacteria to synthesize ectoine from CH4-biogas represents an opportunity for waste treatment plants to improve their economic revenues and align their processes to the incoming circular economy directives. A techno-economic and sensitivity analysis for the bioconversion of biogas into 10 t ectoine.y(-1) was conducted in two stages: (I) bioconversion of CH4 into ectoine in a bubble column bioreactor and (II) ectoine purification via ion exchange chromatography. The techno-economic analysis showed high investment (4.2 M(sic)) and operational costs (1.4 M(sic).y(-1)). However, the high margin between the ectoine market value (600-1000(sic).kg(-1)) and the estimated ectoine production costs (214(sic).kg(-1)) resulted in a high profitability for the process, with a net present value evaluated at 20 years (NPV20) of 33.6 M(sic). The cost sensitivity analysis conducted revealed a great influence of equipment and consumable costs on the ectoine production costs. In contrast to alternative biogas valorization into heat and electricity or into low added-value bioproducts, biogas bioconversion into ectoine exhibited high robustness toward changes in energy, water, transportation, and labor costs. The worst- and best-case scenarios evaluated showed ectoine break-even prices ranging from 158 to 275(sic).kg(-1), similar to 3-6 times lower than the current industrial ectoine market value. |
| Author Keywords |
Biogas valorization; Biorefinery; Ectoine; Haloalkaliphilic methanotrophic bacteria; Techno-economic assessment; Sensitivity analysis |
| Index Keywords |
Index Keywords |
| Document Type |
Other |
| Open Access |
Open Access |
| Source |
Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED) |
| EID |
WOS:000733767100001 |
| WoS Category |
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary; Green & Sustainable Science & Technology; Engineering, Chemical |
| Research Area |
Chemistry; Science & Technology - Other Topics; Engineering |
| PDF |
https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.1c06772
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