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• Detailed TEA for HTL integration in typical WWTP sizes. • Utilization of comprehensive kinetic process model to enhance TEA projections. • Operating rather than capital costs dictate the economics. • Minimum selling price of biocrude estimated at 1. 4 €/kg for 150 k PE WWTP. • HTL is attractive at typical sludge disposal costs especially for larger WWTP. This study provides a techno-economic analysis (TEA) of biocrude production via hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL), focusing on decentralized HTL plants integrated within wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) of typical sizes (0. 1 to 1. 0 million population equivalents, PE). The analysis uses a typical WWTP in Denmark, serving 150 k PE, as a base case. Steady-state process simulation in Aspen Plus®, employing a detailed kinetic HTL model, provides mass and energy balances for the TEA. Results indicate that operational expenses, including utilities, maintenance, and salaries, dominate overall costs. Processing 323 kg/h of dry solids produces 94 kg/h at a minimum biocrude selling price (MBSP) of 1. 4 €/kg (1. 5 /kg), with a range of 0. 9 to 1. 8 €/kg depending on plant size. A typical sludge handling credit enables competitive production costs for WWTPs larger than 300 k PE. Sensitivity analysis identifies biocrude yield, labor costs, and sludge dry matter content as critical factors influencing MBSP.
Hussain et al. (Mon,) studied this question.