(328e) Opportunities of Bio-Naphtha Beyond Gasoline Blend: A Comprehensive Techno-Economic and Life-Cycle Analysis

Biofuels, especially sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel (RD), play an important role in decarbonizing various hard-to-electrify sectors [1, 2], and the long-term strategy of the Unites States [3] targeting 50-52% greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction by 2030, and net-zero by 2050. However, the production of SAF and RD often results in a substantial byproduct, bio-naphtha, with less market demand in a low carbon economy. Therefore, it is crucial to systematically investigate potential utilization pathways for bio-naphtha, considering its characteristics and the variations arising from different biomass/waste feedstocks and conversion technologies.

This study conducts detailed analysis of bio-naphtha derived from four distinct biofuel technologies, Fischer-Tropsch (FT), hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL), catalytic fast pyrolysis (CFP), and hydroprocessed ester and fatty acids (HEFA), and three potential utilization approaches, steam cracking for producing either polymer grade olefins, or mixed olefins for SAF production, and catalytic reforming for producing green hydrogen and aromatics. Kinetic-based reactor models are developed in Aspen Plus or Aspen HYSYS to evaluate the impact of feedstock composition on reactor performance and product selectivity. Feedstock characterization is collected from either inhouse experiment or literature. Life cycle analysis (LCA) and techno-economic analysis (TEA) are conducted based on plant-wide process model to assess the environmental and economic impacts of different bio-naphtha and utilization technologies. Ultimately, the LCA and TEA results provide guidance for the decision-making regarding the most suitable pathways for bio-naphtha utilization, thereby contributing to the advancement of sustainable biofuel production practices.

References

[1] https://www.energy.gov/eere/bioenergy/sustainable-aviation-fuel-grand-challenge

[2] https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/renewable_diesel.html

[3] https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/us-long-term-strategy.pdf