Techno-economic and whole life cycle assessment of ester fuels production from agricultural waste via hydrothermal liquefaction

To explore the economy and substitutability of agricultural waste-based liquid fuel in the whole life cycle, this paper takes ethyl levulinate as the study object, creatively designing the system boundary and establishing the economic analysis model for the preparation of liquid fuel from biomass hydrothermal Liquefaction. Furthermore, the economy of agricultural waste-based ester fuels was analyzed by comprehensively considering dynamic and static indicators. Finally, taking the large-scale system of producing ethyl levulinate, which processes 70,000 t of corn straw per year, as an example, the economic benefit analysis results of hydrolyzing agricultural wastes to produce ethyl levulinate were obtained, and the key factors affecting the production cost were identified and the uncertainty of the production cost was estimated. The physicochemical characteristics and economic analysis of ester-diesel hybrid vehicle fuel were carried out, showing good combustion characteristics and application prospects. This paper can provide theoretical reference and data support for the economic analysis and large-scale application of biomass liquid fuel in the whole life cycle. •The economic analysis model of hydrolyzing agricultural waste to produce ester fuels is developed.•The economic benefits of ethyl levulinate were analyzed by combining the dynamic and static indicators.•The price of ethyl levulinate had the greatest impact on IRR, NPV, and Pm.•Key factors affecting and uncertainty of the production cost were estimated.•Mixed fuels of B2.5E2.5 and EL5 have good combustion characteristics and application prospects.