RENEWABLE METHANOL PRODUCTION USING AGROINDUSTRIAL WASTES GASIFICATION

This work studies methanol synthesis integrated to a biomass gasification plant to process agricultural residues that are common in Brazil: soybean straw (SS) and sugarcane bagasse (SB). A preliminary technical evaluation is performed using simulation models. The non-stoichiometric thermodynamic equilibrium approach is chosen to model the gasification process and define process conditions for a syngas suitable for methanol production. The gasification unit counts with syngas synthesis, syngas conditioning, and a carbon capture system (CCS) for syngas purification. A steam/biomass ratio of 0.6 and 0.7 were selected for SS an SB, and a gasification temperature of 900°C was selected for both cases. Methanol synthesis is modeled with a kinetic reaction model. A production of 657 ton/day for SS feedstock, and 601 ton/day for SB is achieved, both with 99% methanol purity.