Integrated bio-chemical pathway for the production of furan-based bio-lubricant and biodiesel from lignocellulosic biomass: A scenario-based techno-environmental assessment

초록

Fossil-derived synthetic lubricants such as polyalphaolefins (PAO) are widely used in high-performance applications but are associated with significant greenhouse gas emissions and reliance on non-renewable resources. In this study, a hybrid bio-chemical pathway is proposed for the production of a high-performance bio-lubricant base oil from lignocellulosic biomass, integrated with fuel-grade biodiesel co-production. The process couples mixed-sugar fermentation to produce oleic acid with catalytic upgrading to generate 2,5-tetrahydrofuran dimethanol (THFDM), followed by esterification to synthesize a THFDM-C18 diester with lubricant-relevant properties. A process model of a 2000 metric tonnes/day biorefinery was developed to evaluate the technical feasibility of the integrated pathway, to produce 87.0 metric tonnes/day of THFDM-C18 diester, 107.8 metric tonnes/day of biodiesel, and 19.8 metric tonnes/day of glycerol. The proposed configuration enables cross-process heat integration and effective utilization of by-product streams, leading to a 17.7% reduction in heating demand compared to non-integrated operation, while enabling energy self-sufficient operation under the integrated configuration. Life cycle assessment under cradle-to-gate conditions shows that the THFDM-C18 diester reduces global warming potential by 28.2–54.3% relative to PAO. Techno-economic analysis indicates a minimum selling price of US$6.67–US$7.72/kg, with additional cost reduction potential through optimized biomass sourcing. These results demonstrate that the proposed hybrid pathway provides a viable route for establishing an integrated valorization process to produce high-value bio-lubricants from lignocellulosic feedstocks, with the additional benefit of biodiesel co-production. © 2026 Elsevier B.V.

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