Techno-Economic Analysis of the Production of Lactic Acid from Lignocellulosic Biomass
This study reports the results of an evaluation of the techno-economic feasibility of a biorefinery with an annual lactic acid production capacity of 100,000 metric tons using lignocellulosic biomass. Corn stover and miscanthus were considered as model feedstocks, and three different fermentation pa...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Fermentation |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/9/7/641 |
| _version_ | 1797589395149160448 |
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| author | Ashish Manandhar Ajay Shah |
| author_facet | Ashish Manandhar Ajay Shah |
| author_sort | Ashish Manandhar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study reports the results of an evaluation of the techno-economic feasibility of a biorefinery with an annual lactic acid production capacity of 100,000 metric tons using lignocellulosic biomass. Corn stover and miscanthus were considered as model feedstocks, and three different fermentation pathways involving bacteria, fungi, and yeast were compared with respect to their ability to convert biomass feedstocks to lactic acid. Equipment, raw materials, utilities and labor requirements, and lactic acid production costs were estimated. The minimum selling price (at a 10% internal rate of return) per metric ton of lactic acid produced from different feedstocks for lactic acid bacteria, fungi, and yeast-based pathways were in the range of USD 1243–1390, USD 1250–1392, and USD 993–1123, respectively, with lower costs for miscanthus. Lactic acid production using genetically engineered yeast strains can eliminate the need for the simultaneous neutralization and recovery of lactic acid, resulting in lower equipment, chemical, and utility requirements and lower lactic acid production costs. Lactic acid production costs were highly sensitive to the conversion rates of sugars into lactic acid, feedstock cost, production plant size, operation hours, and acid hydrolysis reactor costs. Improvements in process conditions and efficiencies and lower costs of equipment and consumables are necessary to utilize lignocellulosic biomass for lactic acid production at lower costs while remaining cost-competitive with respect to first-generation and petroleum-based feedstocks. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:06:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c85e6c89ed1c4b56b5d0edea92ce8e01 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2311-5637 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:06:02Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Fermentation |
| spelling | doaj.art-c85e6c89ed1c4b56b5d0edea92ce8e012023-11-18T19:16:19ZengMDPI AGFermentation2311-56372023-07-019764110.3390/fermentation9070641Techno-Economic Analysis of the Production of Lactic Acid from Lignocellulosic BiomassAshish Manandhar0Ajay Shah1Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH 44691, USADepartment of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH 44691, USAThis study reports the results of an evaluation of the techno-economic feasibility of a biorefinery with an annual lactic acid production capacity of 100,000 metric tons using lignocellulosic biomass. Corn stover and miscanthus were considered as model feedstocks, and three different fermentation pathways involving bacteria, fungi, and yeast were compared with respect to their ability to convert biomass feedstocks to lactic acid. Equipment, raw materials, utilities and labor requirements, and lactic acid production costs were estimated. The minimum selling price (at a 10% internal rate of return) per metric ton of lactic acid produced from different feedstocks for lactic acid bacteria, fungi, and yeast-based pathways were in the range of USD 1243–1390, USD 1250–1392, and USD 993–1123, respectively, with lower costs for miscanthus. Lactic acid production using genetically engineered yeast strains can eliminate the need for the simultaneous neutralization and recovery of lactic acid, resulting in lower equipment, chemical, and utility requirements and lower lactic acid production costs. Lactic acid production costs were highly sensitive to the conversion rates of sugars into lactic acid, feedstock cost, production plant size, operation hours, and acid hydrolysis reactor costs. Improvements in process conditions and efficiencies and lower costs of equipment and consumables are necessary to utilize lignocellulosic biomass for lactic acid production at lower costs while remaining cost-competitive with respect to first-generation and petroleum-based feedstocks.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/9/7/641bioproductbiochemicalbioeconomylignocellulosic feedstockprocess modeling |
| spellingShingle | Ashish Manandhar Ajay Shah Techno-Economic Analysis of the Production of Lactic Acid from Lignocellulosic Biomass Fermentation bioproduct biochemical bioeconomy lignocellulosic feedstock process modeling |
| title | Techno-Economic Analysis of the Production of Lactic Acid from Lignocellulosic Biomass |
| title_full | Techno-Economic Analysis of the Production of Lactic Acid from Lignocellulosic Biomass |
| title_fullStr | Techno-Economic Analysis of the Production of Lactic Acid from Lignocellulosic Biomass |
| title_full_unstemmed | Techno-Economic Analysis of the Production of Lactic Acid from Lignocellulosic Biomass |
| title_short | Techno-Economic Analysis of the Production of Lactic Acid from Lignocellulosic Biomass |
| title_sort | techno economic analysis of the production of lactic acid from lignocellulosic biomass |
| topic | bioproduct biochemical bioeconomy lignocellulosic feedstock process modeling |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/9/7/641 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ashishmanandhar technoeconomicanalysisoftheproductionoflacticacidfromlignocellulosicbiomass AT ajayshah technoeconomicanalysisoftheproductionoflacticacidfromlignocellulosicbiomass |