This work presents technoeconomic analysis (TEA) and life cycle assessment (LCA) of a novel biorefinery producing succinic acid (SA) from sugarcane bagasse. The process consists of acid pretreatment, fermentation, followed by downstream separation and purification. Experimental data for pretreatment and fermentation are adapted for a plant processing 4 t/h of dry bagasse, producing 405 kg/h of succinic acid with the same quantity of acetic acid as a side product. Downstream separation is simulated in ASPEN PLUS. The facility is assumed to be annexed to and heat-integrated with an existing sugar mill in India. LCA is performed considering cradle-to-gate scope with 1 kg of SA as the functional unit. The TEA results show that although the process is currently not economically feasible, expected improvements in fermentation yields will make it cost-competitive. For the expected yield, the product cost of SA is INR 121/kg ($1.61/kg), and the selling price of succinic acid should be INR 178/kg ($2.37/kg) for a payback period of 4 years. Pretreatment and fermentation are the biggest contributors to the product cost. The life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are 1.39 kg of CO₂ equiv/kg succinic acid with electricity as the major contributor. Process improvement opportunities are identified to reduce the costs, as well as life cycle impacts.

中文翻译：

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甘蔗渣生产琥珀酸的经济与环境评价

这项工作介绍了从甘蔗渣中生产琥珀酸 (SA) 的新型生物精炼厂的技术经济分析 (TEA) 和生命周期评估 (LCA)。该过程包括酸预处理、发酵，然后是下游的分离和纯化。预处理和发酵的实验数据适用于处理 4 t/h 干甘蔗渣的工厂，生产 405 kg/h 的琥珀酸，副产品的乙酸量相同。在 ASPEN PLUS 中模拟下游分离。假设该设施附属于印度现有的糖厂并与之热集成。LCA 的执行考虑了以 1 kg SA 作为功能单元的从摇篮到门的范围。TEA 结果表明，虽然该工艺目前在经济上不可行，发酵产量的预期提高将使其具有成本竞争力。对于预期产量，SA 的产品成本为 121 印度卢比/公斤（1.61 美元/公斤），琥珀酸的售价应为 178 印度卢比/公斤（2.37 美元/公斤），投资回收期为 4 年。预处理和发酵是产品成本的最大贡献者。生命周期温室气体 (GHG) 排放量为 1.39 kg CO₂ equiv/kg 琥珀酸，以电为主要贡献者。识别过程改进机会以降低成本以及生命周期影响。