{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,13]],"date-time":"2026-08-13T22:24:33Z","timestamp":1786659873510,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":57,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"18","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2020,9,21]],"date-time":"2020-09-21T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1600646400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/100005825","name":"National Institute of Food and Agriculture","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["2011-68005-30407"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2011-68005-30407"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100005825","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Molecules"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Most of the current commercial production of glacial acetic acid (GAA) is by petrochemical routes, primarily methanol carbonylation. GAA is an intermediate in the production of plastics, textiles, dyes, and paints. GAA production from biomass might be an economically viable and sustainable alternative to petroleum-derived routes. Separation of acetic acid from water is a major expense and requires considerable energy. This study evaluates and compares the technical and economic feasibility of GAA production via bioconversion using either ethyl acetate or alamine in diisobutylkerosene (DIBK) as organic solvents for purification. Models of a GAA biorefinery with a production of 120,650 tons\/year were simulated in Aspen software. This biorefinery follows the path of pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, acetogen fermentation, and acid purification. Estimated capital costs for different scenarios ranged from USD 186 to 245 million. Recovery of GGA using alamine\/DIBK was a more economical process and consumed 64% less energy, due to lower steam demand in the recovery distillation columns. The estimated average minimum selling prices of GGA were USD 756 and 877\/ton for alamine\/DIBK and ethyl acetate scenarios, respectively. This work establishes a feasible and sustainable approach to produce GGA from poplar biomass via fermentation.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules25184328","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2020,9,21]],"date-time":"2020-09-21T08:18:01Z","timestamp":1600676281000},"page":"4328","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":34,"title":["Techno-Economic Analysis of Producing Glacial Acetic Acid from Poplar Biomass via Bioconversion"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"25","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5176-0307","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Rodrigo","family":"Morales-Vera","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Center of Biotechnology of Natural Resources (CENBIO), School of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, Catholic University of Maule, 3480112 Talca, Chile"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jordan","family":"Crawford","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Bechtel Corporation, Reston, VA 20190-5918, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Chang","family":"Dou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-2100, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Renata","family":"Bura","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-2100, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rick","family":"Gustafson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-2100, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,9,21]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Biddy, M.J., Scarlata, C., and Kinchin, C. (2016). Chemicals from Biomass: A Market Assessment of Bioproducts with Near-Term Potential, National Renewable Energy Lab.(NREL).","DOI":"10.2172\/1244312"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"647","DOI":"10.1002\/ceat.200800063","article-title":"Succinic acid: a new platform chemical for biobased polymers from renewable resources","volume":"31","author":"Bechthold","year":"2008","journal-title":"Chem. Eng. Technol."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"229","DOI":"10.1007\/s00449-005-0398-0","article-title":"Direct fermentation of potato starch wastewater to lactic acid by Rhizopus oryzae and Rhizopus arrhizus","volume":"27","author":"Huang","year":"2005","journal-title":"Bioprocess. Biosyst. Eng."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"807","DOI":"10.1007\/s10295-016-1756-4","article-title":"Fermentation of lignocellulosic sugars to acetic acid by Moorella Thermoacetica","volume":"43","author":"Ehsanipour","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Ind. Microbiol. Biotechnol."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"146","DOI":"10.1002\/bbb.1320","article-title":"Accounting for the constrained availability of land: a comparison of bio-based ethanol, polyethylene, and PLA with regard to non-renewable energy use and land use","volume":"6","author":"Bos","year":"2012","journal-title":"Biofuelsbioprod. Biorefin."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"539","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclepro.2013.09.030","article-title":"Comparative assessment of the environmental profile of PLA and PET drinking water bottles from a life cycle perspective","volume":"65","author":"Papong","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Clean. Prod."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1898","DOI":"10.1016\/j.polymdegradstab.2013.06.016","article-title":"Sustainability assessments of bio-based polymers","volume":"98","author":"Hottle","year":"2013","journal-title":"Polym. Degrad. Stab."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"54","DOI":"10.1016\/j.resconrec.2013.06.010","article-title":"Life cycle assessments of biodegradable, commercial biopolymers\u2014A critical review","volume":"78","author":"Yates","year":"2013","journal-title":"Resour. Conserv. Recycl."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"59","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cattod.2014.02.029","article-title":"Biomass into chemicals: one-pot production of furan-based diols from carbohydrates via tandem reactions","volume":"234","author":"Cai","year":"2014","journal-title":"Catal. Today."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"749","DOI":"10.1016\/j.copbio.2011.05.005","article-title":"Microbial production of diols as platform chemicals: recent progresses","volume":"22","author":"Zeng","year":"2011","journal-title":"Curr. Opin. Biotechnol."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Werpy, T., and Petersen, G. (2004). Top Value Added Chemicals from Biomass: Volume I\u2014Results of Screening for Potential Candidates from Sugars and Synthesis Gas, National Renewable Energy Lab.","DOI":"10.2172\/15008859"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"44","DOI":"10.1080\/15422119.2016.1185017","article-title":"Acetic acid production and purification: critical review towards process intensification","volume":"46","author":"Parimal","year":"2017","journal-title":"Sep. Purif. Rev."},{"key":"ref_13","unstructured":"Gerhartz, W., and Schulz, G. (2012). Acetic Acid. Ullmann\u2019s Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, VCH."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"293","DOI":"10.1016\/S0920-5861(00)00263-7","article-title":"High productivity methanol carbonylation catalysis using iridium the cativa process for the manufacture of acetic acid","volume":"58","author":"Sunley","year":"2005","journal-title":"Catal. Today."},{"key":"ref_15","unstructured":"U.S. Life Cycle Inventory Database (2011, November 19). National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 2011, Available online: https:\/\/www.lcacommons.gov\/nrel\/search."},{"key":"ref_16","unstructured":"(2019, January 30). GBI research. Available online: http:\/\/www.gbiresearch.com\/report-store\/market-reports\/archive\/acetic-acid-global-market-to-2020-surge-in-vam-and-pta-sectors-in-asia-pacific-to-drive-global-demand."},{"key":"ref_17","unstructured":"(2019, November 30). Global Acetic Acid Market-Trends and Forecasts (2016\u20132021). Available online: https:\/\/www.researchandmarkets.com\/reports\/3606015\/global-acetic-acid-market-segmented-by."},{"key":"ref_18","unstructured":"(2020, September 10). Bio-Acetic Acid Market-Growth, Trends, and Forecast (2020\u20132025). Available online: https:\/\/www.researchandmarkets.com\/reports\/4536172\/bio-acetic-acid-market-growth-trends-and."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"234","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biombioe.2008.05.007","article-title":"Effect of biomass species and plant size on cellulosic ethanol: a comparative process and economic analysis","volume":"33","author":"Huang","year":"2009","journal-title":"Biomass Bioenergy."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Humbird, D., Davis, R., Tao, L., Kinchin, C., Hsu, D., Aden, A., Schoen, P., Lukas, J., Olthof, B., and Worley, M. (2011). Process Design and Economics for Biochemical Conversion of Lignocellulosic Biomass to Ethanol. NREL\/TP-5100-47764, National Renewable Energy Laboratory.","DOI":"10.2172\/1013269"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Juneja, A., Kumar, D., and Murthy, G. (2013). Economic feasibility and environmental life cycle assessment of ethanol production from lignocellulosic feedstock in Pacific Northwest US. J. Renew. Sustain. Energy., 023142.","DOI":"10.1063\/1.4803747"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"141","DOI":"10.1186\/s13068-016-0545-7","article-title":"Hydrocarbon bio-jet fuel from bioconversion of poplar biomass: techno-economic assessment","volume":"9","author":"Crawford","year":"2016","journal-title":"Biotechnol. Biofuels."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"85","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biombioe.2017.01.017","article-title":"Techno-economic analysis for the biochemical conversion of Miscanthus x giganteus into bioethanol","volume":"98","author":"Kurkalova","year":"2017","journal-title":"Biomass Bioenergy"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"54","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fuproc.2017.09.022","article-title":"Techno-economic and environmental analysis of aviation biofuels","volume":"171","author":"Neuling","year":"2018","journal-title":"Fuel Process. Technol."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Argo, E., and Keshwani, D.R. (2019). Techno-Economic Implications of Fed-Batch Enzymatic Hydrolysis. Processes, 7.","DOI":"10.3390\/pr7110847"},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kurambhatti, C., Kumar, D., and Singh, V. (2019). Impact of Fractionation Process on the Technical and Economic Viability of Corn Dry Grind Ethanol Process. Processes, 7.","DOI":"10.3390\/pr7090578"},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sanchis-Sebasti\u00e1, M., Gomis-Fons, J., Galbe, M., and Wallberg, O. (2020). Techno-Economic Evaluation of Biorefineries Based on Low-Value Feedstocks Using the BioSTEAM Software: A Case Study for Animal Bedding. Processes, 8.","DOI":"10.3390\/pr8080904"},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Zhang, H., Wang, L., P\u00e9rez-Fortes, M., Van herle, J., Mar\u00e9chal, F., and Desideri, U. (2020). Techno-economic optimization of biomass-to-methanol with solid-oxide electrolyzer. Appl. Energy, 258.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apenergy.2019.114071"},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Vasconcelos, M.H., Mendes, F.M., Ramos, L., Dias, M.O.S., Bonomi, A., Jesus, C.D.F., Watanabe, M.D.B., Junqueira, T.L., Milagres, A.M.F., and Ferraz, A. (2020). Techno-economic assessment of bioenergy and biofuel production in integrated sugarcane biorefinery: Identification of technological bottlenecks and economic feasibility of dilute acid pretreatment. Energy, 117422.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.energy.2020.117422"},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Pratto, B., Dos Santos-Rocha, M.S.R., Longati, A.A., de Sousa Junior, R., and Cruz, A. (2020). Experimental optimization and techno-economic analysis of bioethanol production by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process using sugarcane straw. Bioresour. Technol., 122494.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biortech.2019.122494"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Jung, S., Kim, H., Fai Tsang, Y., Andrew Lin, K.Y., Park, Y.K., and Kwon, E. (2020). A new biorefinery platform for producing (C2-5) bioalcohols through the biological\/chemical hybridization process. Bioresour. Technol., 123568.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biortech.2020.123568"},{"key":"ref_32","unstructured":"Walron, K.C. (2014). Techno-economic assessment (TEA) of advanced biochemical and thermochemical biorefineries. Advances in Biorefineries. Biomass and Waste Supply Chain Exploitation, Woodhead."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"750","DOI":"10.1016\/j.renene.2020.07.028","article-title":"Process design and techno-economic evaluation for the production of platform chemical for hydrocarbon fuels from lignocellulosic biomass using biomass-derived g-valerolactone","volume":"161","author":"Ahmad","year":"2020","journal-title":"Renew. Energy"},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Manandhar, A., and Shah, A. (2020). Techno-Economic Analysis of Bio-Based Lactic Acid Production Utilizing Corn Grain as Feedstock. Processes, 8.","DOI":"10.3390\/pr8020199"},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"47","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cherd.2020.03.012","article-title":"Rigorous simulation and techno-economic analysis of a bio-jet-fuel intermediate production process with various integration strategies","volume":"159","author":"Yu","year":"2020","journal-title":"Chem. Eng. Res. Des."},{"key":"ref_36","first-page":"28","article-title":"Hybrid poplar in the Pacific Northwest: the effects of market-driven management","volume":"100","author":"Stanton","year":"2002","journal-title":"J. For."},{"key":"ref_37","unstructured":"Braun, R., Karlen, D., and Johnson, D. (2010). Development of hybrid poplar for commercial production in the United States: The Pacific Northwest and Minnesota experience. Sustainable Alternative Fuel Feedstock Opportunities, Challenges and Roadmaps for Six US Regions, Soil and Conservation Society."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Stanton, B.J., Haiby, K., Gantz, C., Espinoza, J., and Shuren, R.A. (2019). The economics of rapid multiplication of hybrid poplar biomass varieties. Forests, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/f10050446"},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"209","DOI":"10.1002\/bbb.206","article-title":"Poplar as a feedstock for biofuels: a review of compositional characteristics","volume":"4","author":"Sannigrahi","year":"2010","journal-title":"Biofuelsbioprod. Biorefin."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sassner, P., Galbe, M., and Zacchi, G. (2005). Steam pretreatment of salix with and without SO2 impregnation for production of bioethanol. Appl. Biochem. Biotechnol., 1101\u20131117.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-1-59259-991-2_92"},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"804","DOI":"10.1021\/bp9900864","article-title":"Substrate and enzyme characteristics that limit cellulose hydrolysis","volume":"15","author":"Mansfield","year":"1999","journal-title":"Biotechnol. Prog."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"226","DOI":"10.1186\/s13068-015-0414-9","article-title":"Synergistic effects of mixing hybrid poplar and wheat straw biomass for bioconversion processes","volume":"8","author":"Vera","year":"2015","journal-title":"Biotechnol. Biofuels."},{"key":"ref_43","unstructured":"ZeaChem Inc (2011). Process for producing ethanol. (Application No. 7,964,379 B2), US Patent."},{"key":"ref_44","unstructured":"Turton, R., Bailie, R.C., Whiting, W.B., and Shaeiwitz, J.A. (2009). Analysis, Synthesis, and Design of Chemical Processes, Pearson Education."},{"key":"ref_45","first-page":"23","article-title":"Solvent extraction with amines for recovery of acetic acid from dilute aqueous industrial streams","volume":"1","author":"Ricker","year":"1980","journal-title":"J. Sep. Process. Technol."},{"key":"ref_46","first-page":"36","article-title":"Solvent properties of organic bases for extraction of acetic acid from water","volume":"1","author":"Ricker","year":"1979","journal-title":"J. Sep. Process. Technol."},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"144","DOI":"10.1021\/je60077a009","article-title":"Solvent equilibriums for extraction of carboxylic acids from water","volume":"23","author":"Wardell","year":"1978","journal-title":"J. Chem. Eng. Data."},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"154","DOI":"10.1186\/s13068-020-01784-y","article-title":"Production routes to bio-acetic acid: life cycle assessment","volume":"13","author":"Budsberg","year":"2020","journal-title":"Biotechnol. Biofuels"},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"364","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apenergy.2008.05.010","article-title":"Techno-economic analysis of wood biomass boilers for the greenhouse industry","volume":"86","author":"Chau","year":"2009","journal-title":"Appl. Energy."},{"key":"ref_50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"421","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cep.2004.06.004","article-title":"Energetic and economic evaluation of the production of acetic acid via ethane oxidation","volume":"44","author":"Smejkal","year":"2005","journal-title":"Chem. Eng. Process."},{"key":"ref_51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"McAloon, A., Taylor, F., Yee, W., Ibsen, K., and Wooley, R. (2000). Determining the Cost of Producing Ethanol from Corn Starch and Lignocellulosic Feedstocks, National Renewable Energy Laboratory.","DOI":"10.2172\/766198"},{"key":"ref_52","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"202","DOI":"10.1016\/j.copbio.2017.03.008","article-title":"Cellulosic ethanol: status and innovation","volume":"45","author":"Lynd","year":"2017","journal-title":"Curr. Opin. Biotechnol."},{"key":"ref_53","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"22","DOI":"10.1186\/1754-6834-5-22","article-title":"Techno-economic evaluation of 2nd generation bioethanol production from sugar cane bagasse and leaves integrated with the sugar-based ethanol process","volume":"5","author":"Macrelli","year":"2012","journal-title":"Biotechnol. Biofuels"},{"key":"ref_54","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"122","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bej.2016.06.009","article-title":"Design strategies for sustainable biorefineries","volume":"116","author":"Moncada","year":"2016","journal-title":"Biochem. Eng. J."},{"key":"ref_55","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"50","DOI":"10.1186\/s13068-017-0722-3","article-title":"Techno-economic analysis and climate change impacts of sugarcane biorefineries considering different time horizons","volume":"10","author":"Junqueira","year":"2017","journal-title":"Biotechnol. Biofuels"},{"key":"ref_56","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"196","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eneco.2017.03.015","article-title":"Turbulent times: uncovering the origins of US natural gas price fluctuations since deregulation","volume":"64","author":"Wiggins","year":"2017","journal-title":"Energy Econ."},{"key":"ref_57","unstructured":"(2019, April 11). U.S. Energy Information and Administration, Available online: https:\/\/www.eia.gov\/dnav\/ng\/hist\/rngwhhdA.htm."}],"container-title":["Molecules"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1420-3049\/25\/18\/4328\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T10:12:05Z","timestamp":1760177525000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1420-3049\/25\/18\/4328"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2020,9,21]]},"references-count":57,"journal-issue":{"issue":"18","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,9]]}},"alternative-id":["molecules25184328"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/molecules25184328","relation":{},"ISSN":["1420-3049"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1420-3049","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2020,9,21]]}}}