Paper details

Title:

Analysis of Circular Carbon Biofuel and E-fuel Production from Saudi Arabian Date Palm Fruit and Palm Waste through Integrated Fermentation, Gasification, and CO2 Capture

Author(s):

Fernandes, R.J., Shakeel, M.R., Nguyen, D., Im, H.G., Turner, J.W.G.

Document(s):

Abstract:

In alignment with international efforts and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals for sustainable development and environmental responsibility, the need for alternative renewable fuels is increasingly vital. Saudi Arabia’s abundant cultivation of date palms (Phoenix dactylifera L.) presents an opportunity not only as a nutrient-rich food source but also as a valuable feedstock for biofuel and e-fuel production. This study investigates the potential of date fruit and date palm waste—including fronds and other residual biomass—in producing both ethanol and e-methanol through an integrated process which was modeled using Aspen Plus simulation software. Ethanol is produced via fermentation of dates, while the remaining waste undergoes gasification to create syngas, which is subsequently converted into methanol. CO2 emissions from both processes are captured and recycled, maximizing carbon efficiency and reducing overall emissions. This approach ensures that each carbon atom is recycled and converted into fuel. Key findings indicate that the conversion of date palm fruit to ethanol achieves near-theoretical efficiency, with approximately 40% of the fermentation mass converted to ethanol and 38.5% as CO2, which is fully captured for reuse in e-methanol synthesis, illustrating an efficient circular carbon process. The gasification process demonstrated a conversion efficiency of 32%, yielding 368.47 kg/day of methanol from 1153.28 kg/day of date palm waste. Additionally, 1099.22 kg/day of CO2 was generated during syngas production via gasification, with 100% capture for further e-methanol synthesis. Combined, the captured CO2 from both fermentation and gasification of waste date biomass was efficiently converted into 1430.78 kg/day of e-methanol. This study illustrates a scalable model for carbon-neutral fuel production, which could have significant implications for sustainable energy practices in arid regions worldwide. The process achieves high conversion efficiencies for both bioethanol and e-methanol while capturing and reusing CO2 emissions, thereby minimizing waste and maximizing resource use.

Keywords:

CO₂ capture, energy, fermentation, fuel

Topic:

Biomass Conversion to Intermediate Bioenergy Carriers and Sustainable Biofuels

Subtopic:

Biofuels and synthetic fuels from biomass and hydrogen

Event:

33rd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition

Session:

5DO.3.3

Pages:

899 - 904

ISBN:

978-88-89407-25-7

Paper DOI:

10.5071/33rdEUBCE2025-5DO.3.3

Price:

FREE