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In this article we address the environmental assessment of the coprocessing of biomass‐based feedstock in crude oil refineries. In particular, we consider the coprocessing of bio‐oil (from the pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass) in fluid catalytic cracking and hydrocracking units, and the cogasification of pyrolysis char (coproduced with bio‐oil) with coke. In addition to a conventional fossil‐based refinery used as the base case, we simulate three alternative case studies including different biofeedstock coprocessing layouts based on original models validated against experimental data. We use process simulation as a primary source of data for the life‐cycle assessment (LCA) of each case study. The LCA results show that the system's carbon footprint per energy output is improved when including biofeedstock coprocessing, favoring the study with the highest biofeedstock use. However, the results for other life‐cycle indicators such as the abiotic depletion of elements and eutrophication lead to unfavorable results for biofeedstock coprocessing, which is mainly due to the increased use of catalysts and the need for fertilizers. Hence, the suitability of a specific coprocessing layout will be ultimately conditioned by the performance indicators prioritized by the actors involved in the decision‐making process. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Process simulation and techno-economic assessment of SAF production by HEFA route. • By-products valorization is addressed to obtain hydrogen and/or power. • Levelized cost of fuel (LCOF) estimated ranges between 0.57 and 0.64 €/kg. • ATR scenario is the most feasible option to valorize gases produced in the SAF process. • OPEX dominated by the cameline oil price and influenced by H 2 and electricity prices. In the recent years, the increasing demand of air transportation, the concern about the fossil resources depletion and the global warming caused by greenhouse-gas emissions have increased the interest for the viability of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The hydrotreatment of vegetable oils can be considered a technologically-feasible alternative to produce SAF compatible with the current aviation technology. This process also generates by-products suitable to be valorized through different pathways to obtain hydrogen and/or power, required in the process, which shall be assessed to find the most feasible solution. With this aim, this work proposes and evaluates different process configurations for kerosene-range hydrocarbon production based on camelina oil hydrotreatment and alternative scenarios for the valorization of the co-produced light-gases. These alternatives, comprising steam reforming, autothermal reforming and power generation, are assessed from a technoeconomic perspective. The results indicate operational costs dominated by the camelina oil price and strongly influenced by hydrogen and electricity prices. The levelized cost of fuel estimated ranges between 0.57 and 0.64 € per kilogram of fuel, depending on the studied scenario, which demonstrate the techno-economic feasibility of the proposed systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biobased liquid fuels are becoming an attractive alternative to replace, totally or partially, fossil ones in the medium term, mainly in aviation and long-distance transportation. In this regard, coprocessing biomass-derived feedstocks in conventional oil refineries might facilitate the transition from the current fossil-based transport to a biobased one. This article addresses the economic and environmental feasibility of such a coprocessing strategy. The biomass-based feedstocks considered include bio-oil and char from the fast pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass, which are coprocessed in fluid catalytic cracking (FCC), hydrocracking, and/or cogasification units. The assessment was based on the standardized concept of eco-efficiency, which relates the environmental and economic performances of a system following a life-cycle approach. Data from a complete simulation of the refinery process, from raw materials to products, were used to perform a life cycle costing and eco-efficiency assessment of alternative configurations of the coprocessing strategy, which were benchmarked against the conventional fossil refinery system. Among other relevant results, the eco-efficiency related to the system's carbon footprint was found to improve when considering coprocessing in the hydrocracking unit, while coprocessing in FCC generally worsens the eco-efficiency score. Overall, it is concluded that coprocessing biomass-based feedstock in conventional crude oil refineries could be an eco-efficient energy solution, which requires a careful choice of the units where biofeedstock is fed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]