Sustainability Outlook of Thermochemical-Based Second-Generation Biofuel Production: Exergy Assessment

Abstract

Since the last century, the idea of replacing traditional fossil sources with renewable alternatives has attracted much attention. As a result, auspicious renewable biofuels, such as biohydrogen or bio-oil, have emerged as suitable options. This study provides some knowledge on combining process design, modeling, and exergy analysis as a united framework to support decision making in energy-based projects. The assessment also included a final evaluation, considering sustainability indicators to evaluate process performance. Feedstock selection is crucial for producing bio-oil and hydrogen for process sustainability; this aspect is discussed, considering second-generation sources. Second-generation bio-oil and biohydrogen production are assessed and compared under the proposed framework. Process simulation was performed using ASPEN PLUS. Exergy analysis was developed using data generated in the process simulation stage, containing material and energy balances, thermodynamic properties, chemical reactions, etc. A mathematical formulation for the exergy analysis shows the exergy of utilities, waste, exergy efficiency, and exergy intensity of both processes, based on the same functional unit (1 kg of product). The sustainability evaluation included quantifying side parameters, such as the renewability index, energy efficiency, or global warming potential. The results indicate that pyrolysis obtained the highest resource exergy efficiency (11%), compared to gasification (3%). The exergy intensity shows that more exergy is consumed in the gasification process (4080.21 MJ/kg) than pyrolysis (18.64 MJ/kg). Similar results are obtained for total irreversibility (327.41 vs. 48.75 MJ/kg) and exergy of wastes (51.34 vs. 18.14 MJ/kg).

Relationship between Countries’ Energy Indicators and the Indices of GVC Participation: The Case of APEC Member Economies

“…It should be mentioned that in 2003, the sustainability of the supply chain was defined as the ability to respond to unexpected failures and restore the normal operation of the supply chain [21] (pp. [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30]. Rice and Caniato (2003) considered that in today's business environment, we need a supply network that has comprehensive security processes and procedures in place and is resilient enough to bounce back from any disruptions that do happen [21] (pp.…”

“…Rice and Caniato (2003) considered that in today's business environment, we need a supply network that has comprehensive security processes and procedures in place and is resilient enough to bounce back from any disruptions that do happen [21] (pp. [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30]. Another approach to GBC sustainability was suggested by Ponomarov and Holcomb (2009) who described sustainability as the adaptive ability of supply chains to prepare for unexpected events, respond to failures, and recover from them, maintaining the continuity of operations at the desired level of connectivity and control over structure and functions.…”

“…Furthermore, Taylor et al (2017) particularized better energy indicators for sustainable development [28], and Perea-Moreno and Hernandez-Escobedo (2021) conducted analysis of advances in renewable energy and energy saving systems for the sustainable city [29]. Sustainability outlook of thermochemical-based second-generation biofuel production was presented by Meramo et al (2021) [30]. Two more pieces of researches should be mentioned in this case.…”

Profiling of the β-glucosidases identified in the genome ofPenicillium funiculosum: Insights from genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and homology modelling studies

“…In the energy sector, researchers are searching for alternative cleaner sources of energy to reduce pollution caused by fossil fuels. This has resulted in increased research into the production of secondgeneration biofuels from lignocellulosic materials, which represent an abundant, viable, cheap, and clean alternative (1)(2)(3)(4)(5). Lignocellulosic biomass is considered to be the most abundant renewable bioresource on earth.…”

Improvement of Working Conditions of Mining Workers by Reducing Nitrogen Oxide Emissions during Blasting Operations

“…Nowadays, the vast majority of the world energy industry is associated with the use of coal, oil and gas, and building and construction inextricably interwinds with the use of wall-stone, asbestos and other mineral resources mined in quarries [9]. It is important to note that the development of the mining industry inland makes it possible to pursue an economic policy in the field of import and export of extracted resources, which is an integral part of the GDP, and, accordingly, the sustainable development of the state itself [10][11][12].…”