Modeling and environmental implications of methanol production from biogenic CO2in the sugarcane industry

Abstract

This article presents a comprehensive model for the industrial production of methanol through the direct hydrogenation of biogenic CO2 from a biorefinery. Carbon capture and transformation to methanol are modeled through process simulation, ensuring that the H2 used for CO2 reduction, as well as electrical power requirements, are renewable. The environmental assessment is performed via a cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment study. The approach is applied to a typical large-scale sugar-ethanol complex in Argentina. The results show that the production of green methanol is a good option for the decarbonization of the industry and the methanol market. The sustainability of the overall process largely depends on the sustainability of the agricultural tasks that form the basis of the biorefinery. This is an unavoidable aspect that is not taken into account in many environmental studies on the production of CO2-based products, which leave aside the origin of the CO2.