Optimising Multi Biomass Feedstock Utilisation Considering a Multi Technology Approach

As effects of climate change and resource scarcity disturb the modern world, there is an urgent need to shift from the traditional fossil fuel-based economy towards a more sustainable future. Transitioning towards a bio-economy can serve waste reduction and energy diversification objectives. Whilst technologies continue to develop that are capable of processing a wide array of wastes as feedstock, it is necessary to devise methodologies that optimise strategic decisions within bio-economies and increase the competitiveness with traditional fossil fuel-based industries. As such, the objective of this study is to develop an integrated framework that can inform optimal technological pathways for the conversion of various biomass waste into value-added products. The biomass feedstock include: date seeds, municipal solid waste, food waste, camel manure, and sludge. To achieve this objective, a two stage optimisation framework is developed based on three technologies; gasification, pyrolysis, hydrothermal liquefaction. Outputs of process specific models are used in a multi-objective mathematical formulation model to identify optimal pathways that encompass technology pathways and corresponding value-added product for each waste type. The mathematical model maximises the total revenue and minimises total emissions within the waste to value added product pathways. The simulation results demonstrate that the process yield of syngas production using gasification is higher than the pyrolysis for the date seeds, MSW, food wastes, and camel manure by about 58.67%, 69.81%, 60.38%, and 58.32% respectively. The results of the optimisation indicate the need to improve the efficiency of the hydrothermal liquefaction process, which is the optimal pathway to produce bio-oil from date seeds alone. However, for the other waste types, the gasification process is the preferred technology discarding bio-oil quality.