Process Design and Techno-Economic Feasibility Analysis of an Integrated Pineapple Processing Waste Biorefinery

This study assessesthe techno-economic feasibility of an integratedbiorefinery based on pineapple processing waste. Xylooligosaccharides,ethanol, xylitol, bromelain, and silage are among the key productsof the biorefinery. The economic performance of the processes involvedin generating the biorefinery products was assessed based on calculationsperformed in ASPEN Plus. Seven different scenarios were designed withindividual and multiple products and were further evaluated for aplant capacity of 10 tons per hour as the base case. Sensitivity analysisshowed that plant capacity and selling price of value-added productswere the most important factors that influenced plant economics. Theplant capacity twice the base capacity often made the venture economicallyfeasible as in the case of scenarios 1 (production of xylitol andsilage) and 7 (production of bromelain, xylitol, and silage) withan NPV of $9.2 million and $8.9 million, respectively. Increasingthe selling price of the products by 25% of the base case made scenarios1 and 6 (production of bromelain, xylitol, ethanol, and silage) economicallyviable (NPV > 0). A decrease in the price for procurement of pineapplewaste from $25/ton to $10/ton made scenario 4 (production of bromelainand silage) profitable with an NPV of $3.3 million and IRR of 42%.

Automated summary

This study assesses the techno-economic feasibility of an integrated biorefinery based on pineapple processing waste and identifies increased plant capacity and selling price of value-added products as the crucial factors for improving plant economics.