Abstract:
Pyrolysis stands out as a highly promising technology for converting biomass. Upgrading the biooil
to meet the requirements for fuelling internal combustion engines is indispensable. This study
evaluates the economic viability of microwave-assisted pyrolysis (MAP) of pine sawdust, followed
by bio-oil esterification for the production of biodiesel. Aspen Plus® was used to simulate a facility
that processed 2000 metric tonnes of pine sawdust per day. The minimum fuel selling price
(MFSP) of biodiesel was established through the use of a discounted cash flow analysis. A life
cycle assessment approach was used to evaluate the environmental impact assessment of biodiesel
production. Process modelling findings revealed that the pyrolysis section yielded 65.8 wt% biooil,
8.9 wt% biochar, and 25.3 wt% NCGs. The biodiesel product yield was 48 wt% of the raw biooil,
yielding 631.7 tonnes per day of biodiesel. With the cost of methanol playing a significant
role, the overall capital investment was $286.1 MM and the total yearly operating expenses were
$164.9 MM. The predicted MFSP for biodiesel is $2.31/L, with yearly operational expenses and
biodiesel output being the most important factors. The emission from the biodiesel production
process resulted in a global warming potential of 70.97 kg CO2eq. With an anticipated MFSP that
is competitive with traditional diesel fuel, the study concludes that the method is economically
viable. The results underline how crucial it is to optimize crucial process variables in order to
increase the process’s economic viability
