Techno-economic evaluation of a biorefinery applying food waste for sophorolipid production – A case study for Hong Kong

Huaimin Wang; Chi Wing Tsang; Ming Ho To; Guneet Kaur; Sophie L.K.W. Roelants; Christian V. Stevens; Wim Soetaert; Carol Sze Ki Lin

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2020.122852

Techno-economic evaluation of a biorefinery applying food waste for sophorolipid production – A case study for Hong Kong

Huaimin Wang, Chi Wing Tsang, Ming Ho To, Guneet Kaur, Sophie L.K.W. Roelants, Christian V. Stevens, Wim Soetaert, Carol Sze Ki Lin^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Biology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › peer-review

66 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This study evaluates the techno-economic feasibility of sophorolipid (SL) production process that co-utilizes food waste, glucose and oleic acid as substrates. Two variables are considered in terms of (a) Plant construction: Purchasing equipment either from the US or Mainland China and (b) Production: to produce SL crystals (about 97% active) or a concentrated SL liquid/syrup (about 78% active). Hence, four scenarios are generated: Scenario I: equipment made in the USA + SL crystals; Scenario II: equipment made in the USA + SL syrup; Scenario III: equipment made in China + SL crystals; Scenario IV: equipment made in China + SL syrup. It is found that all scenarios are economically feasible and Scenario I has the highest net profit. Scenario III has the highest internal rate of return, net present value and the shortest payback period at a 7% discount rate. Finally, comparison of food waste-related techno-economic studies was conducted.

Original language	English
Article number	122852
Journal	Bioresource Technology
Volume	303
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2020.122852
Publication status	Published - May 2020

Scopus Subject Areas

Bioengineering
Environmental Engineering
Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Waste Management and Disposal

User-Defined Keywords

Food waste
Sensitivity analysis
Sophorolipid
Starmerella bombicola
Techno-economic assessment

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.biortech.2020.122852

Cite this

@article{f6f4d38164e24a1f99b8abeb18802bd0,

title = "Techno-economic evaluation of a biorefinery applying food waste for sophorolipid production – A case study for Hong Kong",

abstract = "This study evaluates the techno-economic feasibility of sophorolipid (SL) production process that co-utilizes food waste, glucose and oleic acid as substrates. Two variables are considered in terms of (a) Plant construction: Purchasing equipment either from the US or Mainland China and (b) Production: to produce SL crystals (about 97% active) or a concentrated SL liquid/syrup (about 78% active). Hence, four scenarios are generated: Scenario I: equipment made in the USA + SL crystals; Scenario II: equipment made in the USA + SL syrup; Scenario III: equipment made in China + SL crystals; Scenario IV: equipment made in China + SL syrup. It is found that all scenarios are economically feasible and Scenario I has the highest net profit. Scenario III has the highest internal rate of return, net present value and the shortest payback period at a 7% discount rate. Finally, comparison of food waste-related techno-economic studies was conducted.",

keywords = "Food waste, Sensitivity analysis, Sophorolipid, Starmerella bombicola, Techno-economic assessment",

author = "Huaimin Wang and Tsang, {Chi Wing} and To, {Ming Ho} and Guneet Kaur and Roelants, {Sophie L.K.W.} and Stevens, {Christian V.} and Wim Soetaert and Lin, {Carol Sze Ki}",

note = "Funding Information: This project is fully funded by the Applied Research Grant of City University of Hong Kong (Project No. of 9667156). Dr. Carol Sze Ki Lin acknowledges the support by the 2019 GREEN CHEM Mobility Fund from the Global Green Chemistry Network in Ghent University, Belgium.",

year = "2020",

month = may,

doi = "10.1016/j.biortech.2020.122852",

language = "English",

volume = "303",

journal = "Bioresource Technology",

issn = "0960-8524",

publisher = "Elsevier Ltd.",

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AU - Wang, Huaimin

AU - Tsang, Chi Wing

AU - To, Ming Ho

AU - Kaur, Guneet

AU - Roelants, Sophie L.K.W.

AU - Stevens, Christian V.

AU - Soetaert, Wim

AU - Lin, Carol Sze Ki

N1 - Funding Information: This project is fully funded by the Applied Research Grant of City University of Hong Kong (Project No. of 9667156). Dr. Carol Sze Ki Lin acknowledges the support by the 2019 GREEN CHEM Mobility Fund from the Global Green Chemistry Network in Ghent University, Belgium.

PY - 2020/5

Y1 - 2020/5

N2 - This study evaluates the techno-economic feasibility of sophorolipid (SL) production process that co-utilizes food waste, glucose and oleic acid as substrates. Two variables are considered in terms of (a) Plant construction: Purchasing equipment either from the US or Mainland China and (b) Production: to produce SL crystals (about 97% active) or a concentrated SL liquid/syrup (about 78% active). Hence, four scenarios are generated: Scenario I: equipment made in the USA + SL crystals; Scenario II: equipment made in the USA + SL syrup; Scenario III: equipment made in China + SL crystals; Scenario IV: equipment made in China + SL syrup. It is found that all scenarios are economically feasible and Scenario I has the highest net profit. Scenario III has the highest internal rate of return, net present value and the shortest payback period at a 7% discount rate. Finally, comparison of food waste-related techno-economic studies was conducted.

AB - This study evaluates the techno-economic feasibility of sophorolipid (SL) production process that co-utilizes food waste, glucose and oleic acid as substrates. Two variables are considered in terms of (a) Plant construction: Purchasing equipment either from the US or Mainland China and (b) Production: to produce SL crystals (about 97% active) or a concentrated SL liquid/syrup (about 78% active). Hence, four scenarios are generated: Scenario I: equipment made in the USA + SL crystals; Scenario II: equipment made in the USA + SL syrup; Scenario III: equipment made in China + SL crystals; Scenario IV: equipment made in China + SL syrup. It is found that all scenarios are economically feasible and Scenario I has the highest net profit. Scenario III has the highest internal rate of return, net present value and the shortest payback period at a 7% discount rate. Finally, comparison of food waste-related techno-economic studies was conducted.

KW - Food waste

KW - Sensitivity analysis

KW - Sophorolipid

KW - Starmerella bombicola

KW - Techno-economic assessment

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Techno-economic evaluation of a biorefinery applying food waste for sophorolipid production – A case study for Hong Kong

Abstract

Scopus Subject Areas

User-Defined Keywords

UN SDGs

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