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Poster Presentation 5-12
An Economic Analysis of Ethanol Production from Syngas
Rakesh K. Bajpai1 and Mark E. Zappi2
1Chemical Engineering Department University of Missouri – Columbia Columbia, MO 65211
2Chemical Engineering Department Mississippi State University Box 9595 Mississippi State, MS 39762-9595
Telephone: (573) 882 3708; Fax: (573) 884 4940; E-mail: bajpair@missouri.edu
Active research in the past fifteen years has provided evidence that syngas components (carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide) can be used by a number of microorganisms to produce ethanol. Presently, there is considerable interest in using this information for industrial production. We will present our efforts to identify, through an economic analysis of the process, the key issues that need to be addressed in order to make this technology economically viable. Starting with a typical composition of the exit gases from a municipal waste gasifier and the published data concerning the cell productivity and yields of individual reaction, a spreadsheet economic analysis was conducted. Key system parameters and variables were changed within a feasible domain to identify the parameters and variables that need to be defined accurately. This analysis resulted in establishment of the limits of desired feed gas composition as well as reactor operating conditions. This information can be used to direct both gasifier research as well as optimize reactors to be used for this process. These results will be presented and discussed in the context of research and development needs in this area.
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