LAPSE:2025.0034
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LAPSE:2025.0034
An MILP model to identify optimal strategies to convert soybean straw into value-added products
March 12, 2025
Soybean is a highly valuable global commodity due to its versatility and numerous derivative products. During harvest, all non-seed materials become “straw”. Currently, this waste is pri-marily used for low-value purposes such as animal feed, landfilling, and incineration. To address this, the present work proposes a conceptual biorefinery aimed at converting soybean straw into higher-value products. The study began with data collection to identify potential conversion routes. Based on this information, a superstructure was developed, comprising seven conversion routes: four thermochemical routes (pyrolysis, combustion, hydrothermal gasification, and lique-faction), two biological routes (fermentation and anaerobic fermentation), and one chemical route (alkaline extraction). Each process was evaluated based on product yields, conversion times, and associated capital and operating costs. Using this data, an MILP (Mixed-Integer Linear Program-ming) optimization model was built in Pyomo using CPLEX as the solver. The variables in this problem were the amounts of biomass processed by each conversion process. The objective function was to maximize the Net Present Value (NPV). The optimization considered a maximum raw material supply of 232,500 metric tons per year. As a result, pyrolysis was identified as the most profitable route, yielding US$447 million, producing biochar, bio-oil and gas as products. It was observed that only if the price of the optimum product was 46% lower would the optimum conversion process change. In conclusion, soybean straw offers significant potential for value-added applications in a biorefinery context, with pyrolysis emerging as the most profitable route.
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Tamagno Junior IJ, Santoro BF, Guerra O, Teles dos Santos M. An MILP model to identify optimal strategies to convert soybean straw into value-added products. (2025). LAPSE:2025.0034
Author Affiliations
Tamagno Junior IJ*: University of São Paulo, Department of Chemical Engineering, Escola Politécnica, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
Santoro BF: OP2B - Optimization to Business Ltda., São Paulo, SP, Brazil
Guerra O: National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, USA
Teles dos Santos M: University of São Paulo, Department of Chemical Engineering, Escola Politécnica, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Santoro BF: OP2B - Optimization to Business Ltda., São Paulo, SP, Brazil
Guerra O: National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, USA
Teles dos Santos M: University of São Paulo, Department of Chemical Engineering, Escola Politécnica, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Publication Date
2025-07-01
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[v1] (Original Submission)
Mar 12, 2025
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Mar 14, 2025
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