Articles
  • Next-generation circular waste biorefineries based on biogas utilization using renewable energy: Process composition and economic analysis

  • Okkyoung Choia, Amith Abrahamb, Seongcheol Kangb,c, Saehee Leec, Jung Han Parkd and Byoung-In Sangb,c,*

  • aEco Lab Center, SK Ecoplant, 51, Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
    bClean-Energy Research Institute, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong- gu, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
    cDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
    dNational Research Facilities and Equipment Center, Korea Basic Science Institute, 169-148 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34133, Republic of Koreaa

  • This article is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

The integration of waste-to-energy processes with CO₂ reduction and renewable energy storage was investigated. Here, we demonstrate a waste biorefinery that utilize biogas, which was previously used only for thermal energy. High value-added chemicals such as succinic acid, polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and synthetic natural gas can be produced by industrial microorganism from food waste and renewable energy. Water electrolysis facilities accounted for a significant portion of the investment cost. However, the rising demand for bioplastics helped shorten the payback period despite their relatively high price. The quantity and economic feasibility of final products changed according to the order of the process, and the possibility of circular waste biorefinery based on the use of biogas using renewable energy was suggested.


Keywords: Power-to-gas, Waste-to-energy, Biogas, Value-added products, Techno-economic analysis.

This Article

  • 2025; 26(3): 483-491

    Published on Jun 30, 2025

  • 10.36410/jcpr.2025.26.3.483
  • Received on Feb 26, 2025
  • Revised on Mar 12, 2025
  • Accepted on Mar 14, 2025

Correspondence to

  • Byoung-In Sang

  • bClean-Energy Research Institute, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong- gu, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
    cDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
    Tel : +82-2-2220-2328 Fax: +82-2-2298-4101

  • E-mail: biosang@hanyang.ac.kr