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Process Simulation and Environmental Aspects of Dimethyl Ether Production from Digestate-Derived Syngas

Author

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  • Aristide Giuliano

    (ENEA–Italian Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Energy Technologies and Renewable Sources Department, Trisaia Research Centre, I-75026 Rotondella, Italy)

  • Enrico Catizzone

    (ENEA–Italian Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Energy Technologies and Renewable Sources Department, Trisaia Research Centre, I-75026 Rotondella, Italy)

  • Cesare Freda

    (ENEA–Italian Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Energy Technologies and Renewable Sources Department, Trisaia Research Centre, I-75026 Rotondella, Italy)

Abstract

The production of dimethyl ether from renewables or waste is a promising strategy to push towards a sustainable energy transition of alternative eco-friendly diesel fuel. In this work, we simulate the synthesis of dimethyl ether from a syngas (a mixture of CO, CO 2 and H 2 ) produced from gasification of digestate. In particular, a thermodynamic analysis was performed to individuate the best process conditions and syngas conditioning processes to maximize yield to dimethyl etehr (DME). Process simulation was carried out by ChemCAD software, and it was particularly focused on the effect of process conditions of both water gas shift and CO 2 absorption by Selexol ® on the syngas composition, with a direct influence on DME productivity. The final best flowsheet and the best process conditions were evaluated in terms of CO 2 equivalent emissions. Results show direct DME synthesis global yield was higher without the WGS section and with a carbon capture equal to 85%. The final environmental impact was found equal to −113 kgCO 2 /GJ, demonstrating that DME synthesis from digestate may be considered as a suitable strategy for carbon dioxide recycling.

Suggested Citation

  • Aristide Giuliano & Enrico Catizzone & Cesare Freda, 2021. "Process Simulation and Environmental Aspects of Dimethyl Ether Production from Digestate-Derived Syngas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-21, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:2:p:807-:d:482778
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Uddin, Md Mosleh & Simson, Amanda & Wright, Mark Mba, 2020. "Techno-economic and greenhouse gas emission analysis of dimethyl ether production via the bi-reforming pathway for transportation fuel," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 211(C).
    2. Clausen, Lasse R. & Elmegaard, Brian & Houbak, Niels, 2010. "Technoeconomic analysis of a low CO2 emission dimethyl ether (DME) plant based on gasification of torrefied biomass," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(12), pages 4831-4842.
    3. Ajay Kumar & David D. Jones & Milford A. Hanna, 2009. "Thermochemical Biomass Gasification: A Review of the Current Status of the Technology," Energies, MDPI, vol. 2(3), pages 1-26, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Aristide Giuliano, 2023. "The Transition of Scientific Research from Biomass-to-Energy/Biofuels to Biomass-to-Biochemicals in a Biorefinery Systems Framework," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-4, February.
    2. Vishal Ram & Surender Reddy Salkuti, 2023. "An Overview of Major Synthetic Fuels," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-35, March.
    3. Aristide Giuliano & Massimiliano Errico & Hamid Salehi & Pasquale Avino, 2022. "Environmental Impact Assessment by Green Processes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-4, November.
    4. Vittoria Fatta & Aristide Giuliano & Maria Teresa Petrone & Francesco Nanna & Antonio Villone & Donatella Barisano & Roberto Albergo & Federico Liuzzi & Diego Barletta & Isabella De Bari, 2025. "A Novel Integrated Biorefinery for the Valorization of Residual Cardoon Biomass: Overview of Technologies and Process Simulation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-22, February.
    5. Wojtacha-Rychter, Karolina & Howaniec, Natalia & Smoliński, Adam, 2024. "Investigation of co-gasification characteristics of coal with wood biomass and rubber seals in a fixed bed gasifier," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    6. Lv, Zedong & Yu, Miao & Li, Songnan & Zhang, Jiawei & Zhao, Jingxiang & Cai, Qinghai, 2024. "A solvation strategy for fabricating acid-base sites on metals/ZSM-5 towards dehydration of high-water-content methanol to dimethyl ether," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
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    8. Diana L. Tinoco Caicedo & Myrian Santos Torres & Medelyne Mero-Benavides & Oscar Patiño Lopez & Alexis Lozano Medina & Ana M. Blanco Marigorta, 2023. "Simulation and Exergoeconomic Analysis of a Trigeneration System Based on Biofuels from Spent Coffee Grounds," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-17, February.

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