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Assessment of the techno-economic and environmental performances of using external green hydrogen as a reagent to produce high-value chemicals and fuels in sugarcane biorefineries
Gamor, S. 2025. Assessment of the techno-economic and environmental performances of using external green hydrogen as a reagent to produce high-value chemicals and fuels in sugarcane biorefineries. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar....
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613856282443776 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Gamor, Samuel |
| author2 | Gorgens, Johann F. |
| author_browse | Gamor, Samuel Gorgens, Johann F. |
| author_facet | Gorgens, Johann F. Gamor, Samuel |
| author_sort | Gamor, Samuel |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Gamor, S. 2025. Assessment of the techno-economic and environmental performances of using external green hydrogen as a reagent to produce high-value chemicals and fuels in sugarcane biorefineries. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/4671ba9c-9795-4e0f-bf30-4a9962d46d9c |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132377 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:42:46.825Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132377 Assessment of the techno-economic and environmental performances of using external green hydrogen as a reagent to produce high-value chemicals and fuels in sugarcane biorefineries Gamor, Samuel Gorgens, Johann F. Dogbe, Eunice Sefakor Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Chemical Engineering. Hydrogen as fuel Sugarcane -- Biotechnology Greenhouse gas mitigation Sugar -- Manufacture and refining -- By-products UCTD Gamor, S. 2025. Assessment of the techno-economic and environmental performances of using external green hydrogen as a reagent to produce high-value chemicals and fuels in sugarcane biorefineries. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/4671ba9c-9795-4e0f-bf30-4a9962d46d9c Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The global push for net-zero emissions by 2050 has driven the adoption of green hydrogen, produced via renewable-powered water electrolysis, as a solution to decarbonize hard-toabate sectors like the chemical industry, which contributes 5% of global GHG emissions. The economic and environmental benefits of producing valuable chemicals in sugarcane biorefineries using externally sourced green hydrogen were assessed. Lignin isolated from sugarcane lignocellulose using the Reductive Catalytic Fractionation (RCF) technology was used to produce cyclohexanol, cyclohexanone, pure phenol, or phenolic oligomers, while the cellulose fraction was converted into levoglucosenone (LGO) via pyrolysis and subsequently processed into dihydrolevoglucosenone (Cyrene™) or 1,6-hexanediol (1,6-HDO); isomalt was produced from A-molasses. The biorefineries were integrated with an existing sugarcane mill, creating a combined facility that was energy self-sufficient, utilizing only sugarcane-derived materials and imported green hydrogen. Economic feasibility was assessed using minimum selling prices (MSPs) at a 20% internal rate of return (IRR)(real terms) and the green hydrogen price of $8/kg (average market price in 2023). The MSPs of 1,6-HDO ($4021/ton), pure phenol ($1286/ton), phenolic oligomers ($1391/ton), isomalt ($1180/ton syrup; $1330/ton crystal), and CyreneTM ($927/ton) were lower than the prevailing market prices, indicating strong economic viability. However, the MSPs for cyclohexanone ($2,476/ton) and cyclohexanol ($2,886/ton) exceeded prevailing market prices by 30% and 18%, respectively, mainly due to high downstream processing and hydrogen costs. High-pressure reactors in 2G scenarios constituted 25–77% of total equipment costs (TEC), while green hydrogen accounted for 30–63% of operational expenses (OPEX) in cellulose-based biorefineries but had a smaller impact (3-6%) on lignin-based systems due to internal hydrogen generation via alcohol reforming; lower green hydrogen prices of $2-3/kg would improve financial competitiveness. All dollar values are in USD at 2023 prices. All bioproducts had substantially lower life-cycle carbon emissions (0.82-3.01 kgCO₂/kg) than fossil-based counterparts (3.11-4.15 kgCO₂/kg). Extensive use of solvents in RCF increased emissions for lignin-based products (1.89-3.01 kgCO₂/kg), while water as a solvent or solvent-free hydrogenation reduced emissions for sugar-derived products (0.82- 1.01 kgCO₂/kg). Co-producing biochemicals proved economically viable, particularly for sugar-derived products with 74–115 wt% yields and less severe processing requirements, which provide financial and environmental benefits. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaar. Masters 2025-06-05T09:21:46Z 2025-06-05T09:21:46Z 2025-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132377 Stellenbosch University 206 pages application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Hydrogen as fuel Sugarcane -- Biotechnology Greenhouse gas mitigation Sugar -- Manufacture and refining -- By-products UCTD Gamor, Samuel Assessment of the techno-economic and environmental performances of using external green hydrogen as a reagent to produce high-value chemicals and fuels in sugarcane biorefineries |
| title | Assessment of the techno-economic and environmental performances of using external green hydrogen as a reagent to produce high-value chemicals and fuels in sugarcane biorefineries |
| title_full | Assessment of the techno-economic and environmental performances of using external green hydrogen as a reagent to produce high-value chemicals and fuels in sugarcane biorefineries |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of the techno-economic and environmental performances of using external green hydrogen as a reagent to produce high-value chemicals and fuels in sugarcane biorefineries |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of the techno-economic and environmental performances of using external green hydrogen as a reagent to produce high-value chemicals and fuels in sugarcane biorefineries |
| title_short | Assessment of the techno-economic and environmental performances of using external green hydrogen as a reagent to produce high-value chemicals and fuels in sugarcane biorefineries |
| title_sort | assessment of the techno economic and environmental performances of using external green hydrogen as a reagent to produce high value chemicals and fuels in sugarcane biorefineries |
| topic | Hydrogen as fuel Sugarcane -- Biotechnology Greenhouse gas mitigation Sugar -- Manufacture and refining -- By-products UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132377 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT gamorsamuel assessmentofthetechnoeconomicandenvironmentalperformancesofusingexternalgreenhydrogenasareagenttoproducehighvaluechemicalsandfuelsinsugarcanebiorefineries |