Novel integrated mechanical biological chemical treatment (MBCT) systems for the production of levulinic acid from fraction of municipal solid waste: a comprehensive techno-economic analysis

Journal article

This paper, for the first time, reports integrated conceptual MBCT/biorefinery systems for unlocking the value of organics in municipal solid waste (MSW) through the production of levulinic acid (LA by 5 wt%) that increases the economic margin by 110–150%. After mechanical separation recovering recyclables, metals (iron, aluminium, copper) and refuse derived fuel (RDF), lignocelluloses from remaining MSW are extracted by supercritical-water for chemical valorisation, comprising hydrolysis in 2 wt% dilute H2SO4 catalyst producing LA, furfural, formic acid (FA), via C5/C6 sugar extraction, in plug flow (210–230 °C, 25 bar, 12 s) and continuous stirred tank (195–215 °C, 14 bar, 20 min) reactors; char separation and LA extraction/purification by methyl isobutyl ketone solvent; acid/solvent and by-product recovery. The by-product and pulping effluents are anaerobically digested into biogas and fertiliser. Produced biogas (6.4 MWh/t), RDF (5.4 MWh/t), char (4.5 MWh/t) are combusted, heat recovered into steam generation in boiler (efficiency: 80%); on-site heat/steam demand is met; balance of steam is expanded into electricity in steam turbines (efficiency: 35%).

Authors: Sadhukhan, J; Ng, KS; Martinez-Hernandez, E

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Journal: Bioresource Technology
• Volume: 215
• Pages: 131-143
• Publication date: 2016-04-09
• Acceptance date: 2016-04-07
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2016.04.030
• EISSN: 1873-2976
• ISSN: 0960-8524
• Pmid: 27085988
• Language: English
• Keywords: biofuels; charcoal; levulinic acids; solid waste; lignin; metals; garbage; recycling; sulfuric acids