(404f) Process Modeling And Economic Evaluation Of Mix Alco Process To Produce Various C2 To C7 Chemicals

Mixalco process is one of the several bioprocesses developed in past few years to convert different cellulosic biomass to value added products. The mix alco process can be designed to produce chemicals such as organic acids, ketones or alcohols as final products. In this project the process modeling and economic evaluation of the mix alco process to produce organic acids, ketones and alcohols was performed. The fixed capital investment, operating cost and return on investment of the process to produce mixed alcohols, ketones and volatile fatty acids from different biomass were evaluated and compared. The Superpro Designer 7.0 from Intelligen Inc. was used to do process simulation and design. Manure and sewage sludge were used as principal raw materials.

Process models were prepared to compare the economic aspects of a facility to process 40 tons/hr of manure to alcohols, ketones or lower fatty acids as final products. Sensitivity analysis on key parameters affecting the process was also performed. Finally economic comparisons of the mix alco process with normal anaerobic digestion process to produce biogas for heat and electricity were made.