Techno-economic analysis of acetone and ethylene production from bioethanol

Abstract

Bioethanol is primarily blended with gasoline to produce "gasohol." This blend not only reduces dependence on fossil fuels but also cuts down on crude oil imports and bolsters the agricultural sector by creating a market for crops and their residues. Currently, Thailand is witnessing a growing trend towards electric vehicles (EVs). This trend is largely driven by government subsidies for domestic EV manufacturing and plans by overseas companies to establish manufacturing bases within the country. As a result, the bioethanol industry in Thailand is grappling with challenges, chief among them being the decreasing demand for its product. Nonetheless, any bioethanol surplus can be repurposed as raw material for value-added chemical compounds like acetone and ethylene. These compounds can be further refined into high-value products with a wide range of applications across various industries, potentially meeting the rising demand in the future. This study will compare the production of ethylene and acetone from bioethanol in two scenarios: the first focuses solely on acetone production, while the second encompasses both acetone and ethylene. The processes for both scenarios will be simulated using AspenPlus V11 to assess operational conditions and economic viability.