Cost and Environmental Benefits of Using Pelleted Corn Stover for Bioethanol Production

Ramsharan Pandey, Nurun Nahar, Scott W. Pryor and Ghasideh Pourhashem
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Ramsharan Pandey: Department of Coatings and Polymeric Materials, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108, USA
Nurun Nahar: Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108, USA
Scott W. Pryor: Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108, USA
Ghasideh Pourhashem: Department of Coatings and Polymeric Materials, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108, USA

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 9, 1-16

Abstract: While the production costs and logistical benefits of biomass pelleting have been widely discussed in the literature, the downstream economic and environmental benefits of processing pelleted biomass have been largely neglected. To investigate those benefits, we performed a comparative techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment of producing ethanol using loose and pelleted forms of biomass. Analyses of a 2000 metric tons (dry)/d biorefinery showed that using pelleted biomass is more economical than using loose or baled biomass. The lowest minimum ethanol selling price (MESP) for pelleted biomass was USD 0.58/gal less than the lowest MESP for loose biomass. Among all processing conditions analyzed, MESP for ethanol produced with pelleted biomass was always lower than when produced with loose biomass. Shorter pretreatment and hydrolysis times, higher pretreatment solids loadings, lower ammonia requirements, and reduced enzyme loadings were the primary factors contributing to lower MESP with pelleted biomass. Similarly, pelleted biomass also demonstrated a 50% lower life cycle greenhouse gas emission compared to loose biomass. Emissions from higher pelleting energy were offset by downstream advantage in lower chemical needs.

Keywords: techno-economic analysis; life cycle analysis; cellulosic biorefinery; biomass pellets; soaking in aqueous ammonia pretreatment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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