A PRELIMINARY COMPARISON OF MSW BIOREFINERY CONFIGURATIONS BASED ON PROCESS AND MATERIAL FLOWS, POWER PRODUCTION AND VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTS

摘要

This study investigated the potential of a biomass-based biorefinery in Mauritius using municipal solid wastes (MSW). Process selection and scenarios were worked out and the scenarios selected for the MSW biorefinery were anaerobic digestion (scenario A); material recovery facilitysystem (scenario B); scenarios A and B (scenario C (a)); scenario C (a) with production of levulinic acid (scenario C (b)) and gasification (scenario D). The useful products from the MSW biorefinery were power, digested matter for composting, digestates for fertiliser, metals, glass and levulinicacid. The scenarios selected were analysed based on technical and economic parameters. For the technical analysis, 19.98 ton/h to 53.96 ton/h of MSW were processed in the MSW biorefinery. Ash produced varied from 0 to 3.76 ton/h. Carbon dioxide emissions were 2.83-26.97 tCO2e/h.The discounted payback period for the scenarios varied from 6.86-12.11 years, and the internal rate of return ranged from 15.47 to 24.56%. This study has shown that the best MSW biorefinery option is a combined process comprising anaerobic digestion, material recovery facility and the productionof levulinic acid.