Synergistic Fermenter-Electrolytic Cell Integration and Phenomena-Based Process Intensification for Competitive Bio-Succinic Acid Production

34 Pages Posted: 26 Jan 2024

See all articles by Manuel Pinelo

Manuel Pinelo

Technical University of Denmark

Alina Anamaria Malanca

Technical University of Denmark

Ioannis V. Skiadas

Technical University of Denmark

Hariklia N. Gavala

Technical University of Denmark

Seyed Mansouri

Technical University of Denmark

Abstract

The production of bio-succinic acid through fermentation presents a promising strategy for obtaining building-block chemicals from renewable sources. However, the limited yield of bio-succinic acid from fermentation and the complex purification procedures have hindered its competitiveness against petroleum-based succinic acid. One way to tackle this challenge is developing a more efficient and sustainable production route, that is to integrate process synthesis with process intensification. In the present study, an existing flowsheet from our previous work based on process synthesis on bio-succinic acid batch fermentation was selected and subjected to heuristic and phenomena-based process intensification approaches. The heuristic approach involved integrating an electrolytic cell with the fermenter, employing an anionic exchange membrane for continuous extraction of organic acids. The resulting modified process flowsheet served as a base case for a systematic phenomena-based process intensification approach. Through this approach, intensified unit operations, such as an electro-membrane reactor and a membrane crystallizer, were generated. A total of 114 intensified process flowsheet alternatives were developed and ranked according to an enthalpy index. The top-ranked alternatives were evaluated in terms of economic performance and environmental impact. Notably, all analyzed process flowsheets exhibited improved indicators, with a minimum selling price below that of petroleum-based succinic acid (approximately $2 kg-1).

Keywords: process intensification, bio-succinic acid, electrochemical extraction, anionic exchange membrane, techno-economic analysis.

Suggested Citation

Pinelo, Manuel and Malanca, Alina Anamaria and Skiadas, Ioannis V. and Gavala, Hariklia N. and Mansouri, Seyed, Synergistic Fermenter-Electrolytic Cell Integration and Phenomena-Based Process Intensification for Competitive Bio-Succinic Acid Production. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4707126 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4707126

Manuel Pinelo (Contact Author)

Technical University of Denmark ( email )

Anker Engelunds Vej 1
Building 101A
Lyngby, 2800
Denmark

Alina Anamaria Malanca

Technical University of Denmark ( email )

Anker Engelunds Vej 1
Building 101A
Lyngby, 2800
Denmark

Ioannis V. Skiadas

Technical University of Denmark ( email )

Hariklia N. Gavala

Technical University of Denmark ( email )

Anker Engelunds Vej 1
Building 101A
Lyngby, 2800
Denmark

Seyed Mansouri

Technical University of Denmark ( email )

Anker Engelunds Vej 1
Building 101A
Lyngby, 2800
Denmark

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