A comparative techno-economic assessment of fast pyrolysis, hydrothermal liquefaction, and intermediate pyrolysis of municipal solid waste for liquid transportation fuels production

The conversion of municipal solid waste (MSW) to transportation fuels can be an attractive route to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation and municipal sectors. Thermochemical conversion routes like hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL), fast pyrolysis (FP), and intermediate pyrolysis (IP) have been shown to be adept at converting organic dominant MSW into bio-crude or bio-oil. However, to produce compatible transportation grade fuels, it is necessary to upgrade the intermediate product (bio-crude or bio-oil) from all the processes, the extent of which differs depending on the process. Moreover, depending on the conversion technique, the production configuration can be either centralized or decentralized. In a centralized system, feed is transported to a facility to produce the intermediate and upgrade it (on-site upgrading), while in a decentralized system, the intermediate is produced elsewhere and transported to an upgrading facility (off-site upgrading).. Four scenarios were developed and modeled to compare the cost of production of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel from bio-crudes produced from HTL, FP, and IP.. The scenarios are: 1) a centralized HTL plant (C-HTL); 2000 dry t per day; on-site upgrading, 2) a centralized FP plant (C-FP); 2000 dry t per day; on-site upgrading, 3) a decentralized FP plant (D-FP); 50 dry t per day; off-site upgrading, and 4) a decentralized IP plant; 12 dry t per day; off-site upgrading.. Jet fuel was the primary fuel for comparison and the production costs were calculated to be $ 0.72, $ 0.85, $ 1.04, and $ 0.81 per liter for the C-HTL, the C-FP, the D-FP, and the D-IP plants, respectively. Secondary products (gasoline and diesel) can be produced alongside in cost ranges of $ 0.97 - $ 1.40 per liter and $ 1.02 - $ 1.47 per liter, respectively. The information conveyed in this study helps to identify the potential of thermochemical conversion processes to produce transportation fuels at competitive prices. The critical barriers to adopt such large-scale production processes and the opportunities of small-scale decentralized production are also mentioned. The outcomes of this study can be used to direct research and investment to address the major roadblocks that are slowing the extensive development of these technologies.