LAPSE:2020.0795
Published Article
LAPSE:2020.0795
Valorization of OFMSW Digestate-Derived Syngas toward Methanol, Hydrogen, or Electricity: Process Simulation and Carbon Footprint Calculation
Aristide Giuliano, Enrico Catizzone, Cesare Freda, Giacinto Cornacchia
July 2, 2020
This paper explores a possible waste-based economy transition strategy. Digestate from the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) is considered, as well as a low-added value product to be properly valorized. In this regard, air gasification may be used to produce syngas. In this work, the production of methanol, hydrogen, or electricity from digestate-derived syngas was assessed by ChemCAD process simulation software. The process scheme of methanol production comprises the following parts: water gas shift (WGS) with carbon capture and storage units (CCS), methanol synthesis, and methanol purification. In the case of hydrogen production, after WGS-CCS, hydrogen was purified from residual nitrogen by pressure swing absorption (PSA). Finally, for electricity production, the digestate-derived syngas was used as fuel in an internal combustion engine. The main objective of this work is to compare the proposed scenarios in terms of CO2 emission intensity and the effect of CO2 storage. In particular, CCS units were used for methanol or hydrogen production with the aim of obtaining high equilibrium yield toward these products. On the basis of 100 kt/year of digestate, results show that the global CO2 savings were 80, 71, and 69 ktCO2eq/year for electricity, methanol, and hydrogen production, respectively. If carbon storage was considered, savings of about 105 and 99 ktCO2eq/year were achieved with methanol and hydrogen production, respectively. The proposed scenarios may provide an attractive option for transitioning into methanol or hydrogen economy of the future.
Keywords
bio-hydrogen, bio-methanol, digestate, gasification, low carbon processes, process simulation
Suggested Citation
Giuliano A, Catizzone E, Freda C, Cornacchia G. Valorization of OFMSW Digestate-Derived Syngas toward Methanol, Hydrogen, or Electricity: Process Simulation and Carbon Footprint Calculation. (2020). LAPSE:2020.0795
Author Affiliations
Giuliano A: ENEA−Italian Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Department of Energetic Technologies, Trisaia Research Centre, I-75026 Rotondella, Italy [ORCID]
Catizzone E: ENEA−Italian Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Department of Energetic Technologies, Trisaia Research Centre, I-75026 Rotondella, Italy [ORCID]
Freda C: ENEA−Italian Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Department of Energetic Technologies, Trisaia Research Centre, I-75026 Rotondella, Italy
Cornacchia G: ENEA−Italian Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Department of Energetic Technologies, Trisaia Research Centre, I-75026 Rotondella, Italy
Journal Name
Processes
Volume
8
Issue
5
Article Number
E526
Year
2020
Publication Date
2020-04-29
Published Version
ISSN
2227-9717
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Original Submission
Other Meta
PII: pr8050526, Publication Type: Journal Article
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LAPSE:2020.0795
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doi:10.3390/pr8050526
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Jul 2, 2020
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Calvin Tsay
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