Towards methanol economy: a techno-environmental assessment for a bio-methanol OFMSW/biomass/carbon capture-based integrated plant
Open accessAbstract
The anaerobic digestion (AD) of organic fraction municipal solid wastes (OFMSW) is a well-known technology for the valorization of wastes with the production of biogas, the latter usually used in power plant.Nevertheless, more and more effort is necessary in order to produce energy and chemicals from renewables as a strategy for replacing fossil fuels and reducing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.In particular, methanol is considered as a promising energetic vector of the future since it may be produced from renewables and it may be used as a reactant for fuels and chemical production.Currently, methanol is industrially produced via syngas conversion using natural gas as the main feedstock.Biomethane produced in AD unit may be used as an alternative to natural gas for production of syngas that may be used for methanol production.In this work, a techno-environmental assessment for methanol production from biogas is presented and discussed, with focusing on the effect of side-unit, e.g.biomass gasification, carbon dioxide capture and renewable hydrogen production, on the environmental impact.Results show that highest CO2 saving is calculated for the biomass-integrated plant, although more detailed investigations, e.g.cost analysis, need for a proper assessment.
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AD can provide affordable organic fertilisers, which can help reduce poverty (SDG 1) and inequalities (SDG 10) by creating new local businesses and increasing crop yields, thus contributing to reducing hunger (SDG 2).
“In particular, AD can provide affordable organic fertilisers, which can help reduce poverty (SDG 1) and inequalities (SDG 10) by creating new local businesses and increasing crop yields, thus contributing to reducing hunger (SDG 2) (Giuliano et al., 2019).”
From A critical review for the impact of anaerobic digestion on the sustainable development goals (2024) · cites this paper as Giuliano et al., 2019
Section 2.1, “Anaerobic digestion for biogas production (AD)” (page unavailable), says digestate is assumed to be used in agriculture after composting. It does not establish that this produces affordable fertiliser, increases crop yields, creates local businesses, or reduces poverty, inequality or hunger. (LLM, conf=0.86)
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- Authors
- Giuliano, A., Catizzone, E., Barisano, D., Nanna, F., Villone, A., De Bari, I., Cornacchia, G., & Braccio, G.
- Affiliations
- National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (IT)
- Corresponding author
- Catizzone, Enrico
- ORCID
- Venue
- International Journal of Heat and Technology
- Published
- 2019-09-28
- Volume
- 37
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 665-674
- ISSN
- 0392-8764 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2979338832
- Cited by
- 37
- References
- 38
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 14
- FWCI
- 4.35
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- International Journal of Heat and Technology (publishedVersion)
- Archive of Doctoral Theses and Digital Collections (University of Calabria) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Building and Construction › Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Production
- Physical Sciences › Chemical Engineering › Catalysis › Catalysts for Methane Reforming
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Energy Engineering and Power Technology › Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems
- Keywords
- methanol synthesis, methanol economy, anaerobic digestion, biogas, syngas, biomass gasification, CO2 capture, renewable hydrogen production, CO2 emission reduction
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