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The growing interest in bamboo fibers for pulp, paper, and board production in the USA necessitates a comprehensive financial viability assessment. This study conducts a detailed technoeconomic analysis (TEA) of bamboo fiber production, primarily for the consumer hygiene tissue market although it is also applicable to other industrial uses. The economic viability of two pulping methods – alkaline peroxide mechanical pulping (APMP) and ammonium bisulfite chemical pulping (ABS) – was explored within three different pulp mill settings to supply pulp to two nonintegrated tissue and towel mills in South Carolina, USA. The target was to produce wet lap bamboo bleached pulp at 50% consistency and 70% ISO brightness. Despite higher initial capital invesment and operating costs, ABS achieved a lower minimum required selling price – USD 544 to 686 per bone dry metric ton (BDt = 1000 BDkg) – in comparison with USD 766 to 899 BDt−1 for APMP. This price advantage is partly due to an additional revenue stream (lignosulfonate byproduct), which not only boosts revenue but also circumvents the need for expensive chemical recovery systems. When compared with traditional kraft pulping, both methods require significantly lower capital investments, with minimum required selling prices (estimated to achieve 16% IRR) below current market rates for extensively used bleached kraft pulps in the USA tissue industry. The economic benefits derive from several factors: the low cost of bamboo as raw material, reduced capital needs for new pulping technologies, lower transportation costs from the pulp mill to tissue and towel manufacturing facilities, and the high market price of bleached kraft pulp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bamboo, recognized for its rapid growth, high yield, and fiber performance is prominent in the fiber‐based bioproduct industry. However, the absence of US industrial bamboo plantations for fiber production necessitates reliance on imports or locally manufactured products using imported bamboo fibers, predominantly from China. This study evaluates the economic viability of cultivating bamboo in the Southern US for fiber production, with a case study on hygiene tissue products. The supply‐chain analysis was assessed to calculate bamboo chips' minimum selling price (MSP) at the farm gate for an 8% internal rate of return (IRR). The MSP, influenced primarily by land rental costs, ranges from USD 48 to 55 per bone‐dry metric ton (BDt). Despite an initial establishment cost of ~USD 2 000 ha−1 and profitability by year 5, bamboo is a viable, long‐term fiber alternative. Successful bamboo cultivation in the US could lead to a more sustainable implementation of alternative non‐wood fibers for hygiene tissue applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Until recently, food packaging has been used as a barrier to unfavorable environmental and microbial conditions, but new technologies are arising aimed at upgrading the protective nature of these materials. Cases of bacterial and viral transmission through food and surfaces have shown the vulnerabilities of the food packaging distribution systems over the years, creating awareness about new methods to prevent the proliferation of pathogens. This has been highlighted by safety concerns due to the COVID‐19 pandemic. This work reviews the state‐of‐the‐art biobased technologies tailored for antiviral applications on surfaces, focusing on packaging materials. A survey and selection tool of essential oils (EOs) and nanoparticles that have been proven effective in reducing the proliferation or transmission of viruses through surfaces is presented. Additionally, the use of essential oil formulations or nanoparticle‐functionalized biobased materials that can be deployed to prevent virus transmission through food produce and surfaces is reviewed, including environmental and safety concerns around the use of metal nanoparticles and EOs in packaging materials. Finally, an assessment of the available technologies, challenges, opportunities and the potential role of biobased antiviral surfaces in future viral outbreaks is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hemicellulose is a polymer found abundantly in lignocellulosic feedstocks, with many potential market applications. However, there has yet to be a large‐scale commercial process to isolate hemicellulose from lignocellulosic biomass. A techno‐economic assessment for hemicellulose extraction from sugarcane bagasse, switchgrass, and poplar was made. Two isolation processes after alkaline extraction were considered: (1) producing total hemicellulose and (2) producing hemicellulose A (water‐insoluble fraction) only. In a greenfield scenario, a byproduct of the process is sugar, whereas in a co‐location scenario the biomass after hemicellulose extraction is returned to the pulp mill for its fiber value. Operating costs, capital investment, minimum hemicellulose selling price (MHSP), the effect of input material and product prices along with several other process parameters on the MHSP were determined for each scenario. Co‐location scenarios had a dramatically lower capital cost and MHSP relative to greenfield scenarios. This was due to co‐location scenarios utilizing existing biomass processing and utilities equipment and not requiring a sugar‐production process. Among the three biomasses, hemicellulose extraction from sugarcane bagasse had the lowest MHSP for all scenarios, mainly due to a higher hemicellulose extraction yield. Extraction of hemicellulose A from sugarcane bagasse in a co‐location scenario had a low capital cost of 56 million USD and had a reasonable MHSP of 274 USD/t (metric ton). This research indicates that there is reasonable economic potential for hemicellulose extraction from lignocellulosic biomass for applications to replace starch or as a starting material for the production of xylo‐oligomeric prebiotics. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conversion economics, risk, and fi nancial analyses for an industrial facility manufacturing cellulose micro- and nanofibrils (CMNF) from wood pulp is presented. Process data is based on mass and energy balances from a pilot facility in the University of Maine. Here, CMNF is produced from untreated wood pulp by using disk refining, with an assumed production capacity of 50 t (dry metric ton equivalent) per day. Stand-alone and co-location manufacturing facilities were simulated and assessed. Minimum product selling prices (MPSP, estimated to achieve a 16% hurdle rate) for different scenarios ranged from USD 1893/t CMNF to USD 2440/t CMNF (dry equivalent). Pulp and energy consumption were identified as major cost drivers. Consequently, it was found that the use of alternative feedstock, in addition to co-location configuration, can reduce MPSP by 37%. Since estimated MPSP of CMNF is lower than cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) - both estimated to achieve a 16% hurdle rate, we believe market adoption of CMNF in the near term is more promising, regardless of specific applications. This study provides state of the art business intelligence information on the conversion economics, risk, and fi nancial analyses for CMNF manufacturing. Thus, the data represents valuable information to entrepreneurs, R&D scientists, and product developers who plan to adopt CMNF in their processes and products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commercialization of cellulose nanocrystals ( CNC) presents opportunities for a wide range of new products. Techno-economic assessments can provide insightful information for the efficient design of conversion processes, drive cost-saving efforts, and reduce financial risks. In this study, we conducted techno-economic assessments for CNC production using information from the USDA Forest Products Laboratory Pilot Plant, literature, and discussions with experts. Scenarios considered included variations related to greenfield, co-location, and acid recovery. Operating costs, capital investment, minimum product selling price ( MPSP), financial performance metrics, and the effect of drying and higher reaction yields on CNC manufacturing financials were estimated for each scenario. The lowest MPSP was found for the co-location without acid recovery scenario, mainly driven by capital investment. Risk analysis indicates 95% probability of manufacturing costs lower than USD 5900/t of CNC (dry equivalent) and a MPSP lower than USD 7200/t of CNC (dry equivalent). Finally, based on our analysis, we provide guidance on process optimizations that can improve the economic performance of CNC manufacturing process. In addition, a risk profile of the CNC manufacturing business is provided. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In investing in a new venture, companies aim to increase their competitiveness and generate value in scenarios where volatile markets, geopolitical instabilities, and disruptive technologies create uncertainty and risk. The biobased industry poses additional challenges as it competes in a mature, highly efficient market, dominated by petroleum-based companies, and faces significant feedstock availability and variability constraints, limited technological data, and uncertain market conditions for newly developed products. Thus, decision-making strategies and processes for these investment projects must consider solid risk estimation and mitigation measures. Focusing on the biobased industrial sector, this paper critically reviews state-of-the-art probabilistic and deterministic methodologies for assessing financial risk; discusses how a complete risk analysis should be performed; and addresses risk management, listing major risks and possible mitigation strategies. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mandated Environmental Protection Agency biofuel qualifications focused on greenhouse gas ( GHG) emissions and fossil fuel use are limited in perspective and have the potential to encourage burden shifting. When a broader host of environmental impacts are examined, environmental trade-offs often exist when biofuels are compared to gasoline. Multivariate analysis methods examining a wide variety of weighting value systems and methodology assumptions were used to determine process design options with the lowest overall environmental impact. A multivariate environmental analysis was applied to the dilute acid pre-treatment process followed by enzymatic hydrolysis and the fermentation process for converting loblolly pine, eucalyptus, natural hardwood, switchgrass, and sweet sorghum biomass to ethanol. The influence of co-product treatment method choices, inclusion of direct land-use change, and electrical grid assumptions were examined using 16 different weighting methods to create a single score result. Biofuel system rankings based on GHG emissions following the Renewable Fuel Standards 2 ( RFS2) methods were very sensitive to the co-product treatment method, inclusion of land-use change emissions, and energy grid assumptions. The multivariate analysis ranking was heavily influenced by other environmental impacts resulting from the production of process chemicals used in ethanol conversion. Weighting methods examined had no influence on the environmental preference ranking of the biofuel scenarios. Additionally, the biofuel ranking based on the RFS2 methodology was different than the ranking following the multivariate approach examining additional impacts. These findings demonstrate a robust approach to biofuel life cycle assessment ( LCA) scenario analysis and suggest that the limited scope of the RFS2 environmental analysis could result in burden shifting. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dilute sulfuric acid pre-treatment followed by enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation is a technology widely studied as a potential pathway for conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to ethanol. Six feedstocks were evaluated in process and financial simulations. The woody feedstocks include natural hardwood, Eucalyptus, and loblolly pine while the non-woody feedstocks include corn stover, switchgrass, and sweet sorghum. Based on experimental and literature data, ethanol yields for the non-woody biomasses range from 315 to 328 liters per bone dry metric ton (L/BDt). Sweet sorghum that is pressed and washed to remove soluble sugars prior to dilute acid processing can have an ethanol yield of approximately 470 L/BDt. Natural hardwood and Eucalyptus produce ethanol yields of 336 and 309 L/BDt, respectively. When processing 700 000 bone dry metric tons per year, the non-woody biomasses have lower minimum ethanol revenues to achieve a 12% internal rate of return (MER@12%) than the woody biomasses. The non-wood MER@12% ranged from $0.70 to $080/liter while the MER@12% for natural hardwood and Eucalyptus was $0.84-$0.85/liter. The impact of feedstock composition variability on the net present value at 12% (NPV@12%) discount was estimated for corn stover, switchgrass, and loblolly pine. One standard deviation in the sample carbohydrate content for corn stover, switchgrass, and loblolly pine will impact the NPV@12% by approximately $40 M, $72 M, and $24 M, respectively. If recent historical cost and revenue variability continues for the life of the project the most attractive feedstock is squeezed sweet sorghum where the probability of achieving at least a 12% internal rate of return is 64%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In theory, biosugar for conversion to bioproducts can be produced economically from a variety of biomass types in many different technological, co‐production, and biorefinery siting contexts. In this paper, process modeling and financial analysis were conducted for all permutations of biochemical conversion pathways, global biomass types, co‐product options, and biorefinery siting contexts for biosugar production. Minimum sugar revenue (MSR) required to achieve a 15% internal rate of return values for scenarios examined ranged from $150–$748 per tonne. The scenarios with the lowest MSRs were sugarcane in South America and Asia, assuming hot water cook and co‐location or repurpose siting contexts. Another financially optimized scenario is corn grain, also assuming hot water cook, co‐producing distiller’s dry grains and solubles (DDGS), in a repurpose siting context. Against a benchmark sugar price of $408 per metric tonne, an internal rate of return on investment of >15% can typically only be achieved via previously demonstrated conversion pathways using sugar cane and corn grain. Major cost drivers were feedstock cost per metric tonne of carbohydrate, sugar yield, capital investment per annual metric tonne of sugar produced, residue value, and siting context. Near‐term promising technologies include autohydrolysis and dilute acid pathways. Generally, scenarios are financially enhanced by co‐location or repurposing, reducing capital expenditure (CAPEX) by about 33% and 50%, respectively, with negligible impact on cash cost. Conversion process complexity drives capital investment, making some scenarios infeasible despite high sugar yields. Any of the five major cost drivers can impact the order of financial attraction of scenarios, with the outcome of the analysis typically not obvious in advance. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cover image, by Camilla Abbati de Assis et al., is based on the Modeling and Analysis Conversion Economics of Forest Biomaterials: Risk and Financial Analysis of CNC Manufacturing, DOI: . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]