Evaluation of Biorefining Scenarios for Advanced Fuels Production from Triticale Grain

This study explored the potential of triticale feedstock for biofuel biorefining scenarios that included (i) producing ethanol, (ii) biochemically producing acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE), and annexing catalytic processes to ethanol production for (iii) butanol and (iv) hydrocarbons (liquefied petroleum gas, gasoline, jet fuel, diesel). Based on simulations in Aspen Plus, the net greenhouse gas reduction (GHG) and minimum fuel energy price (MFEP) were determined. The maximum contracting prices of triticale (MCP) were then determined and benchmarked against historic animal feed prices to ascertain market competition. Thus, producing ethanol had the lowest MFEP of 18.3 US$/GJ and highest GHG reduction of 81%, while ABE had the highest MFEP of 27.3 GJ/kg and lowest GHG reduction of 63%; therefore, catalytically producing butanol was preferable (MFEP = 22 US$/GJ). If a CAPEX rebate of 30% is applied to the ethanol and butanol scenarios, the chances that existing animal feed prices outcompeted the MCPs were 50-98%. For the hydrocarbon fuels, the MFEPs were 60% higher than the fossil equivalent, though the GHG reduction was 75%. If the jet fuel product received a carbon tax rebate, the chances of the animal feed market outcompeting the MCP were only 22%. Thus, the need for incentivizing mechanisms for biofuels was further emphasized.