Comparison of molasses conversion to biomethanol by biohydrogen pathway with biogas route in engineering and cost assessment: Thailand case

Biomethanol is a significant chemical in biochemicals and biofuels. Molasses is interested in producing biogas and biohydrogen for biomethanol. Biohydrogen, Enterobacter aerogenes digested molasses obtaining value organic chemicals and biohydrogen in appropriate ratios of H2/CO2 then transforming to H2/CO by RWGS. Biogas was converted to syngas then methanol synthesis. The biogas pathway was 4 steps and it was appropriate for sailing single product as biomethanol. The biohydrogen pathway was 3 steps and obtained income both valuable substances and biomethanol. Operating expenditure for 1 kg methanol by biohydrogen experiment and theory were 4.4148 and 4.0912 USD comparing with biogas 0.3446 USD based on commercial methanol price 0.449 USD/kg. The sale prices per kg of biomethanol by biohydrogen were 6.7243 USD (Exp.) and 5.7500 USD (Theory) comparing with biomethanol sailing from biogas pathway at 0.4486 USD. Margin caps were 30.19%, 39.66%, and 40.55% for biogas pathway, biohydrogen experiment and theory route respectively.