Techno-economic evaluation of a biorefinery applying food waste for sophorolipid production – A case study for Hong Kong

Huaimin Wang; Chi-Wing Tsang; Ming Ho To; Guneet Kaur; Sophie L.K.W. Roelants; Christian V. Stevens; Wim Soetaert; Carol Sze Ki Lin

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2020.122852

Techno-economic evaluation of a biorefinery applying food waste for sophorolipid production – A case study for Hong Kong

Huaimin Wang, Chi-Wing Tsang, Ming Ho To, Guneet Kaur, Sophie L.K.W. Roelants, Christian V. Stevens, Wim Soetaert, Carol Sze Ki Lin^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Energy and Environment

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

71 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This study evaluates the techno-economic feasibility of sophorolipid (SL) production process that co-utilizes food waste, glucose and oleic acid as substrates. Two variables are considered in terms of (a) Plant construction: Purchasing equipment either from the US or Mainland China and (b) Production: to produce SL crystals (about 97% active) or a concentrated SL liquid/syrup (about 78% active). Hence, four scenarios are generated: Scenario I: equipment made in the USA + SL crystals; Scenario II: equipment made in the USA + SL syrup; Scenario III: equipment made in China + SL crystals; Scenario IV: equipment made in China + SL syrup. It is found that all scenarios are economically feasible and Scenario I has the highest net profit. Scenario III has the highest internal rate of return, net present value and the shortest payback period at a 7% discount rate. Finally, comparison of food waste-related techno-economic studies was conducted.

Original language	English
Article number	122852
Journal	Bioresource Technology
Volume	303
Online published	27 Jan 2020
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2020.122852
Publication status	Published - May 2020

Research Keywords

Food waste
Sensitivity analysis
Sophorolipid
Starmerella bombicola
Techno-economic assessment

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10.1016/j.biortech.2020.122852

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@article{b52c402bf7ce48398c32e098854644b0,

title = "Techno-economic evaluation of a biorefinery applying food waste for sophorolipid production – A case study for Hong Kong",

abstract = "This study evaluates the techno-economic feasibility of sophorolipid (SL) production process that co-utilizes food waste, glucose and oleic acid as substrates. Two variables are considered in terms of (a) Plant construction: Purchasing equipment either from the US or Mainland China and (b) Production: to produce SL crystals (about 97% active) or a concentrated SL liquid/syrup (about 78% active). Hence, four scenarios are generated: Scenario I: equipment made in the USA + SL crystals; Scenario II: equipment made in the USA + SL syrup; Scenario III: equipment made in China + SL crystals; Scenario IV: equipment made in China + SL syrup. It is found that all scenarios are economically feasible and Scenario I has the highest net profit. Scenario III has the highest internal rate of return, net present value and the shortest payback period at a 7% discount rate. Finally, comparison of food waste-related techno-economic studies was conducted.",

keywords = "Food waste, Sensitivity analysis, Sophorolipid, Starmerella bombicola, Techno-economic assessment",

author = "Huaimin Wang and Chi-Wing Tsang and To, {Ming Ho} and Guneet Kaur and Roelants, {Sophie L.K.W.} and Stevens, {Christian V.} and Wim Soetaert and Lin, {Carol Sze Ki}",

year = "2020",

month = may,

doi = "10.1016/j.biortech.2020.122852",

language = "English",

volume = "303",

journal = "Bioresource Technology",

issn = "0960-8524",

publisher = "Elsevier Ltd.",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Techno-economic evaluation of a biorefinery applying food waste for sophorolipid production – A case study for Hong Kong

AU - Wang, Huaimin

AU - Tsang, Chi-Wing

AU - To, Ming Ho

AU - Kaur, Guneet

AU - Roelants, Sophie L.K.W.

AU - Stevens, Christian V.

AU - Soetaert, Wim

AU - Lin, Carol Sze Ki

PY - 2020/5

Y1 - 2020/5

N2 - This study evaluates the techno-economic feasibility of sophorolipid (SL) production process that co-utilizes food waste, glucose and oleic acid as substrates. Two variables are considered in terms of (a) Plant construction: Purchasing equipment either from the US or Mainland China and (b) Production: to produce SL crystals (about 97% active) or a concentrated SL liquid/syrup (about 78% active). Hence, four scenarios are generated: Scenario I: equipment made in the USA + SL crystals; Scenario II: equipment made in the USA + SL syrup; Scenario III: equipment made in China + SL crystals; Scenario IV: equipment made in China + SL syrup. It is found that all scenarios are economically feasible and Scenario I has the highest net profit. Scenario III has the highest internal rate of return, net present value and the shortest payback period at a 7% discount rate. Finally, comparison of food waste-related techno-economic studies was conducted.

AB - This study evaluates the techno-economic feasibility of sophorolipid (SL) production process that co-utilizes food waste, glucose and oleic acid as substrates. Two variables are considered in terms of (a) Plant construction: Purchasing equipment either from the US or Mainland China and (b) Production: to produce SL crystals (about 97% active) or a concentrated SL liquid/syrup (about 78% active). Hence, four scenarios are generated: Scenario I: equipment made in the USA + SL crystals; Scenario II: equipment made in the USA + SL syrup; Scenario III: equipment made in China + SL crystals; Scenario IV: equipment made in China + SL syrup. It is found that all scenarios are economically feasible and Scenario I has the highest net profit. Scenario III has the highest internal rate of return, net present value and the shortest payback period at a 7% discount rate. Finally, comparison of food waste-related techno-economic studies was conducted.

KW - Food waste

KW - Sensitivity analysis

KW - Sophorolipid

KW - Starmerella bombicola

KW - Techno-economic assessment

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U2 - 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.122852

DO - 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.122852

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

C2 - 32036326

SN - 0960-8524

VL - 303

JO - Bioresource Technology

JF - Bioresource Technology

M1 - 122852

ER -

Techno-economic evaluation of a biorefinery applying food waste for sophorolipid production – A case study for Hong Kong

Abstract

Research Keywords

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Food Waste and Waste Cooking Oil Valorization for Sustainable Production of Sophorolipids

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Techno-economic evaluation of a biorefinery applying food waste for sophorolipid production – A case study for Hong Kong

Abstract

Research Keywords

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Student theses

Food Waste and Waste Cooking Oil Valorization for Sustainable Production of Sophorolipids

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