Table 3 Summary of technoeconomic analysis for co-production of ethanol, electricity, and MCFAs in a lignocellulosic biorefinery
From: Increasing the economic value of lignocellulosic stillage through medium-chain fatty acid production
Description | Size | No. | Installation factor | Total capital and installation cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Additional capital expenses for MCFA production | ||||
 Mixed culture fermentation reactors | 4 MG | 4 | 1.0a | $7,540,000 |
 Mixed culture fermentation agitators | 30 hp | 4 | 1.5 | $317,000 |
 Mixed culture fermentation feed pumps | 2500 gpm | 4 | 1.0a | $227,000 |
 Caustic feed system | 300 gph | 4 | 1.0a | $29,800 |
 Liquid–liquid extraction | 4700 ft3 | 2 | 2.4 | $860,000 |
 Solvent feed system | 50 gpm | 1 | 2.4 | $29,200 |
 Distillation column 1 (solvent recovery) | 630 ft3 | 1 | 2.4 | $1,420,000 |
 Distillation column 2 (MCFA separation) | 240 ft3 | 1 | 2.4 | $797,000 |
Description | Cost per ton | Annual operating expense | Â | Â |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Additional operating expenses for MCFA production | Â | Â | ||
 KOH | $866 | $14,000,000 |  |  |
 2-Octanol | $1402 | $9,660,000 |  |  |
Description | Production | Annual revenue | Â | Â |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Additional revenue for MCFA production | Â | Â | ||
 Electricity | 3759 kW | $1,810,000 |  |  |
 HA | 1877 kg h−1 | $47,450,000 |  |  |
 OA | 169 kg h−1 | $7,490,000 |  |  |
Description | Ethanol–electricity co-productionb | Ethanol–electricity–MCFA co-production |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Comparison of ethanol–electricity co-production to ethanol–electricity–MCFA co-production |  |  | ||
 Total co-product revenue | $6,600,000 | $56,800,000 |  |  |
 Total capital investment | $422,900,000 | $441,200,000 |  |  |
 MESP | $2.15 | $1.76 |  |  |
 MESP (gasoline equivalents) | $3.27 | $2.68 |  |  |