Socio-economic and environmental aspects of bio-LPG and bio-dimethyl ether (Bio-DME) production and usage in developing countries: The case of Brazil
Pieter de Jong, Ednildo Andrade Torres, Sílvio A.B. Vieira de Melo, Delano Mendes de Santana, Karen Valverde Pontes
Abstract
The production of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from biomass, biogas or waste to produce so-called bio-LPG has the potential to be more sustainable with a lower carbon footprint than fossil fuel LPG. In Brazil 13.6 million m3 of LPG are consumed and 80% of this is consumed in the residential sector. Therefore, there is an opportunity to displace LPG and firewood with bio-LPG. The aim of this research is to investigate the socio-economic viability and environmental aspects of bio-LPG and dimethyl ether (bio-DME) production from waste in developing countries. Using Brazil as a case study, data on LPG demand and supply, as well as the cost of production has been collected in order to determine the size of the potential market for bio-LPG nationally. A review of scientific literature on bio-LPG and DME production is conducted in order to map the market potential of these new technologies. The availability of waste feedstocks for second-generation biofuels will be estimated as well as the potential yield of bio-LPG and bio-DME from different agricultural residues and waste products. Besides the commercialised process of hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) to produce biodiesel and bio-LPG, it is expected that the process of converting organic wastes (such as cellulose) into biogas and synthesizing LPG, as well the production of bio-DME from biomass waste have the greatest potentials.