Techno‐economic analysis of jet‐fuel production from biorefinery waste lignin.

Utilizing lignin feedstock along with cellulosic ethanol for the production of high‐energy‐density jet fuel offers a significant opportunity to enhance the overall operation efficiency, carbon conversion efficiency, economic viability, and sustainability of biofuel and chemical production. A patented catalytic process to produce lignin‐substructure‐based hydrocarbons in the jet‐fuel range from lignin was developed. Comprehensive techno‐economic analysis of this process was conducted through process simulation in this study. The discounted cash flow rate of return (DCFROR) method was used to evaluate a 2000 dry metric ton/day lignocellulosic ethanol biorefinery with the co‐production of lignin jet fuel. The minimum selling price of lignin jet fuel at a 10% discount rate was estimated to be in the range of $6.35–$1.76/gal depending on the lignin and conversion rate and capacity. With a production capacity of 1.5–16.6 million gallon jet fuel per year, capital costs ranged from $38.0 to $39.4 million. On the whole, the co‐production of jet fuel from lignin improved the overall economic viability of an integrated biorefinery process for corn ethanol production by raising co‐product revenue from jet fuels. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]