Techno-Economic Analysis of Producing Glacial Acetic Acid from Poplar Biomass via Bioconversion

Abstract

Most of the current commercial production of glacial acetic acid (GAA) is by petrochemical routes, primarily methanol carbonylation. GAA is an intermediate in the production of plastics, textiles, dyes, and paints. GAA production from biomass might be an economically viable and sustainable alternative to petroleum-derived routes. Separation of acetic acid from water is a major expense and requires considerable energy. This study evaluates and compares the technical and economic feasibility of GAA production via bioconversion using either ethyl acetate or alamine in diisobutylkerosene (DIBK) as organic solvents for purification. Models of a GAA biorefinery with a production of 120,650 tons/year were simulated in Aspen software. This biorefinery follows the path of pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, acetogen fermentation, and acid purification. Estimated capital costs for different scenarios ranged from USD 186 to 245 million. Recovery of GGA using alamine/DIBK was a more economical process and consumed 64% less energy, due to lower steam demand in the recovery distillation columns. The estimated average minimum selling prices of GGA were USD 756 and 877/ton for alamine/DIBK and ethyl acetate scenarios, respectively. This work establishes a feasible and sustainable approach to produce GGA from poplar biomass via fermentation.

Aqueous Biphasic Systems Comprising Natural Organic Acid-Derived Ionic Liquids

“…This strategy is valid to expedite the development of bio-based ILs and their application in separation processes with theoretically transposable outcomes if, for instance, acetic acid-easily produced by the microbial oxidation of ethanol-is considered [63]. Moreover, petrochemically derived organic acids are more easily obtained than their naturally derived equivalents, whose purification is a difficult task [64]. If mixtures of organic acids are used instead of pure compounds, both the IL synthetic pathway and ABS-mediated extraction process may need to be revisited.…”

Homogeneous Catalysis for the Conversion of CO2, CO, CH3OH, and CH4 to C2+ Chemicals via C–C Bond Formation

“…An industrially relevant catalytic process that forges C–C bonds from C 1 sources is the Monsanto process . Using rhodium catalysis, CH 3 OH is carbonylated with CO to generate acetic acid (see section ), a chemical with a world demand of 6 million tons per year, of which 60% is produced through the Monsanto process . As such, the development of sustainable catalytic strategies involving C 1 to C 2+ is necessary.…”

“…13 Using rhodium catalysis, CH 3 OH is carbonylated with CO to generate acetic acid (see section II), a chemical with a world demand of 6 million tons per year, of which 60% is produced through the Monsanto process. 14 As such, the development of sustainable catalytic strategies involving C 1 to C 2+ is necessary. However, the fundamental challenges associated with the activation of usually inert bonds and the formation of C−C bonds need to be met.…”

Removal of Acetic Acid from Bacterial Culture Media by Adsorption onto a Two-Component Composite Polymer Gel

“…Microbial fermentation uses biomass as a carbon-neutral resource instead of fossil resources or organic waste, thus providing a promising solution for reducing global carbon emission. Furthermore, some microorganisms can utilize carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and convert it into valuable chemicals [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ].…”

“…Short-chain volatile fatty acids, especially acetic acid, are common microbial metabolites. They are useful as bulk chemicals in industries and have broad applications in food and pharmaceutical industries [ 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 8 ]. Acetic acid has an annual global demand of 10 million tons.…”