Techno-economic analysis of food waste valorization for integrated production of polyhydroxyalkanoates and biofuels

This study focused on the techno-economic analysis of integrated polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and biofuels such as biohydrogen, bioethanol, and 2,3-butanediol production from food waste (FW). Based on previous literature studies, the integrated process was developed. The process plan produced 2.01 MT of PHAs, 0.29 MT of biohydrogen, 4.79 MT of bioethanol, and 6.79 MT of 2,3-butanediol per day, from 50 MT of FW. The process plan has a positive net present value of 4.47 M$, a 13.68% return on investment, a payback period of 7.31 yr, and an internal rate of return of 11.95%. Sensitivity analysis was used to examine the economic feasibility. The actual minimum selling price (MSP) of PHAs was 4.83 $/kg, and the lowest achievable MSP with 30% solid loading is 2.41 $/kg. The solid loading in the hydrolysis stage and the price of byproducts have a major impact on the economic factors and MSP of PHAs.