{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,1]],"date-time":"2026-05-01T06:53:46Z","timestamp":1777618426572,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":31,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,5,26]],"date-time":"2023-05-26T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1685059200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"CERENA","award":["FCT-UID\/ECI\/04028\/2019"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["FCT-UID\/ECI\/04028\/2019"]}]},{"name":"CERENA","award":["LISBOA-01-0247-FEDER-027500"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["LISBOA-01-0247-FEDER-027500"]}]},{"name":"P2020 Clean Cement Line project","award":["FCT-UID\/ECI\/04028\/2019"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["FCT-UID\/ECI\/04028\/2019"]}]},{"name":"P2020 Clean Cement Line project","award":["LISBOA-01-0247-FEDER-027500"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["LISBOA-01-0247-FEDER-027500"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Fuels"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The current energy and climate crisis calls for immediate action in replacing fossil fuels with those derived from renewable sources. The Energreen process performs the direct liquefaction of biomass to produce a liquid biofuel for the cement industry and an aqueous solution of added-value compounds for further processing. The present work details the development of an Aspen Plus\u00ae model to simulate this biomass liquefaction process. The proposed model describes the Energreen liquefaction process using simplified reaction kinetics and thermodynamic models. The model was validated using data from a real liquefaction pilot plant with a deviation of 6.4%. The simulation, conducted with several biomass samples of variable compositions, showed that the process is robust enough to deal with different compositions and, due to the substitution of the fossil fuels presently used in the cement plant, it will allow savings of up to USD 102,000 per year to be achieved. Several analyses of the sensitivity of the results to the process variables were performed and it was possible to identify the reactor temperature and the reaction activation energy as the most impactful parameters on the process output. Overall, the results allow us to conclude that the proposed model is a solid framework for the optimization of industrial liquefaction processes.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/fuels4020014","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,5,26]],"date-time":"2023-05-26T02:24:37Z","timestamp":1685067877000},"page":"221-242","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":10,"title":["Aspen Plus\u00ae Modeling and Simulation of an Industrial Biomass Direct Liquefaction Process"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"4","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0578-1841","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Duarte M.","family":"Cec\u00edlio","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Secil S.A., F\u00e1brica Secil\u2014Out\u00e3o, 2901-864 Set\u00fabal, Portugal"},{"name":"CERENA\u2014Centro de Recursos Naturais e Ambiente, Departamento de Engenharia Qu\u00edmica, Instituto Superior T\u00e9cnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal"}]},{"given":"J. Ricardo M.","family":"Gon\u00e7alves","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Secil S.A., F\u00e1brica Secil\u2014Out\u00e3o, 2901-864 Set\u00fabal, Portugal"},{"name":"CERENA\u2014Centro de Recursos Naturais e Ambiente, Departamento de Engenharia Qu\u00edmica, Instituto Superior T\u00e9cnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9100-2700","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maria Joana Neiva","family":"Correia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CERENA\u2014Centro de Recursos Naturais e Ambiente, Departamento de Engenharia Qu\u00edmica, Instituto Superior T\u00e9cnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8382-2736","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maria Margarida","family":"Mateus","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Secil S.A., F\u00e1brica Secil\u2014Out\u00e3o, 2901-864 Set\u00fabal, Portugal"},{"name":"CERENA\u2014Centro de Recursos Naturais e Ambiente, Departamento de Engenharia Qu\u00edmica, Instituto Superior T\u00e9cnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,5,26]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"200","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biombioe.2018.11.001","article-title":"Modelling of Pine Wood Sawdust Thermochemical Liquefaction","volume":"120","author":"Braz","year":"2019","journal-title":"Biomass Bioenergy"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3454","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rser.2011.05.002","article-title":"Synthesis of Polymers from Organic Solvent Liquefied Biomass: A Review","volume":"15","author":"Pan","year":"2011","journal-title":"Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Moser, L., Penke, C., and Batteiger, V. (2021). An In-Depth Process Model for Fuel Production via Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Catalytic Hydrotreating. Processes, 9.","DOI":"10.3390\/pr9071172"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"969","DOI":"10.1016\/j.enconman.2009.11.038","article-title":"Overview of Recent Advances in Thermo-Chemical Conversion of Biomass","volume":"51","author":"Zhang","year":"2010","journal-title":"Energy Convers. Manag."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"107673","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fuproc.2023.107673","article-title":"Mathematical Models Application in Optimization of Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Biomass","volume":"243","author":"Hao","year":"2023","journal-title":"Fuel Process. Technol."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"126011","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biortech.2021.126011","article-title":"Machine Learning Prediction and Optimization of Bio-Oil Production from Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Algae","volume":"342","author":"Zhang","year":"2021","journal-title":"Bioresour. Technol."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"126278","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biortech.2021.126278","article-title":"Machine Learning Prediction of Biocrude Yields and Higher Heating Values from Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Wet Biomass and Wastes","volume":"344","author":"Katongtung","year":"2022","journal-title":"Bioresour. Technol."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"151","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biortech.2018.02.076","article-title":"Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation of Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Microalgae in a Continuous Plug-Flow Reactor","volume":"258","author":"Ranganathan","year":"2018","journal-title":"Bioresour. Technol."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"45","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biombioe.2014.11.018","article-title":"Techno-Economic Analysis of Transportation Fuels from Defatted Microalgae via Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Hydroprocessing","volume":"72","author":"Ou","year":"2015","journal-title":"Biomass Bioenergy"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"402","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biortech.2012.11.051","article-title":"Conceptual Design of an Integrated Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Biogas Plant for Sustainable Bioenergy Production","volume":"129","author":"Hoffmann","year":"2013","journal-title":"Bioresour. Technol."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"213","DOI":"10.1002\/bbb.1831","article-title":"Renewable Hydrocarbon Fuels from Hydrothermal Liquefaction: A Techno-Economic Analysis","volume":"12","author":"Pedersen","year":"2018","journal-title":"Biofuels, Bioprod. Biorefining"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"737","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclepro.2018.07.218","article-title":"Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Radiata Pine with Kraft Black Liquor for Integrated Biofuel Production","volume":"199","author":"Ong","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Clean. Prod."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"273","DOI":"10.1080\/17597269.2017.1336350","article-title":"A Review of Production, Properties and Advantages of Biodiesel","volume":"9","author":"Mishra","year":"2018","journal-title":"Biofuels"},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"325","DOI":"10.1016\/j.indcrop.2018.07.053","article-title":"Liquefaction of Lignocellulosic Materials and Its Applications in Wood Adhesives\u2014A Review","volume":"124","author":"Jiang","year":"2018","journal-title":"Ind. Crops Prod."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1731","DOI":"10.1016\/j.energy.2004.03.096","article-title":"A Comparative Experimental Study on the Liquefaction of Wood","volume":"29","author":"Zhong","year":"2004","journal-title":"Energy"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"850","DOI":"10.1002\/app.34521","article-title":"Investigation of Liquefied Wood Residues Based on Cellulose, Hemicellulose, and Lignin","volume":"123","author":"Zhang","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Appl. Polym. Sci."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1259","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rser.2017.04.006","article-title":"Hydrogen Donor Solvents in Liquefaction of Biomass: A Review","volume":"81","author":"Isa","year":"2018","journal-title":"Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev."},{"key":"ref_18","unstructured":"Bordado, J., Mateus, M., Lopes, R., Salva, J., Nunes, \u00c2., Cacha\u00e7o, A., Mina, B., and Correia, J. (2017). Instala\u00e7\u00e3o para a Realiza\u00e7\u00e3o de um Processo de Convers\u00e3o de Materiais Lignocelul\u00f3sicos em Biocombust\u00edvel L\u00edquido. (PT Patent 108816)."},{"key":"ref_19","unstructured":"Nunes, \u00c2., Bordado, J., Correia, J., Mateus, M., and Lopes, R. (2023). Catalytic and Continuous Thermochemical Process of Production of Valuable Derivatives from Organic Materials and Waste. (EP Patent 18398010)."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"240","DOI":"10.1016\/j.copbio.2019.02.019","article-title":"Lignin Structure and Its Engineering","volume":"56","author":"Ralph","year":"2019","journal-title":"Curr. Opin. Biotechnol."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1469","DOI":"10.1002\/bbb.2416","article-title":"A Separations and Purification Process for Improving Yields and Meeting Fuel Contaminant Specifications for High-Octane Gasoline Produced from Dimethyl-Ether over a Cu\/BEA Catalyst","volume":"16","author":"Dutta","year":"2022","journal-title":"Biofuels, Bioprod. Biorefining"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"915","DOI":"10.1134\/S0036024410060051","article-title":"The Thermochemical Characteristics of Cellulose and Its Mixtures with Water","volume":"84","author":"Larina","year":"2010","journal-title":"Russ. J. Phys. Chem. A"},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9017","DOI":"10.1021\/acssuschemeng.9b01278","article-title":"Development of a Thermophysical Properties Model for Flowsheet Simulation of Biomass Pyrolysis Processes","volume":"7","author":"Gorensek","year":"2019","journal-title":"ACS Sustain. Chem. Eng."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"23492","DOI":"10.1039\/c4ra01631a","article-title":"A Comprehensive Mechanistic Kinetic Model for Dilute Acid Hydrolysis of Switchgrass Cellulose to Glucose, 5-HMF and Levulinic Acid","volume":"4","author":"Yan","year":"2014","journal-title":"RSC Adv."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8367","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biortech.2008.02.045","article-title":"Experimental and Kinetic Modelling Studies on the Acid-Catalysed Hydrolysis of the Water Hyacinth Plant to Levulinic Acid","volume":"99","author":"Girisuta","year":"2008","journal-title":"Bioresour. Technol."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1596","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apenergy.2013.09.009","article-title":"Kinetic Study on the Liquefaction of Wood and Its Three Cell Wall Component in Polyhydric Alcohols","volume":"113","author":"Zhang","year":"2014","journal-title":"Appl. Energy"},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"15053","DOI":"10.1021\/ie3026407","article-title":"Modeling the Lignin Degradation Kinetics in a Ethanol\/Formic Acid Solvolysis Approach. Part 2. Validation and Transfer to Variable Conditions","volume":"51","author":"Forchheim","year":"2012","journal-title":"Ind. Eng. Chem. Res."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"851","DOI":"10.1002\/ese3.315","article-title":"Lifecycle Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Analysis of Biomass-Based 2-Ethylhexanol as an Alternative Transportation Fuel","volume":"7","author":"Poulikidou","year":"2019","journal-title":"Energy Sci. Eng."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Enes, T., Aranha, J., Fonseca, T., Lopes, D., Alves, A., and Lousada, J. (2019). Thermal Properties of Residual Agroforestry Biomass of Northern Portugal. Energies, 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/en12081418"},{"key":"ref_30","unstructured":"(2023, January 06). Fuels\u2014Higher and Lower Calorific Values. Available online: https:\/\/www.engineeringtoolbox.com\/fuels-higher-calorific-values-d_169.html."},{"key":"ref_31","unstructured":"Jethmalani, H. (2023, January 06). Easing Petroleum Coke Prices a Respite for Cement Investors | Mint. Available online: https:\/\/www.livemint.com\/market\/mark-to-market\/easing-petroleum-coke-prices-a-respite-for-cement-investors-11656954592385.html."}],"container-title":["Fuels"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2673-3994\/4\/2\/14\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T19:42:23Z","timestamp":1760125343000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2673-3994\/4\/2\/14"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2023,5,26]]},"references-count":31,"journal-issue":{"issue":"2","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,6]]}},"alternative-id":["fuels4020014"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/fuels4020014","relation":{},"ISSN":["2673-3994"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2673-3994","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2023,5,26]]}}}