Continuous design and technoeconomic assessment of commercial-scale biorefinery processes for the production of succinic acid

Succinic acid is recognized as a key component in the production of various commercially important chemical commodities. Technical-economic analysis can provide valuable insights into the feasibility of large-scale biochemical production of succinic acid. In this study, the effects of scale on the design of a biorefinery using sugarcane bagasse were evaluated using a detailed process modeling methodology. Four processes were simulated and compared, three based on patents from biosuccinic acid (bio-SA) manufacturing companies and one based on a process economic program report (PEP). This methodology allowed for the analysis of scale benefits for each technological route. A comprehensive economic evaluation was conducted by comparing the biochemical processes in terms of investment and production costs, as well as the minimum selling price (MSP) of bio-SA. Results show that the MSP of more promising process designs ranged from 3105 to 2095 $ t⁻¹, which is compatible with the cost of petrochemical-based succinic acid. Moreover, for capacities above 90 kt year⁻¹, the MSP remains virtually constant, and every process evaluated revealed a breakdown in the project economy of scale. A sensitivity and risk analysis was carried out to evaluate the impacts of several process parameters on the project's technoeconomic analysis, resulting in bio-SA selling price and investment costs as parameters with the highest impact on economic viability.