Title : Integrated process flowsheet and preliminary design for Bio-DME production from organic wastes
Abstract:
Organic wastes can be converted into renewable gaseous intermediates and high-value fuels through integrated biochemical and catalytic processing. This study presents a preliminary process flowsheet for converting food-waste-derived biogas into bio-dimethyl ether (Bio-DME). The proposed line includes anaerobic fermentation, gas cleaning, an R1 packed-bed reforming reactor, cooling and water removal, CO2 separation with recycle, a syngas storage tank, an R2 DME synthesis reactor, gas-liquid separation, distillation, and final DME storage. The biogas stream was represented as approximately 70% CH4 and 30% CO2. The R1 design window involved CH4/CO2 ratios of 1/1-3/1, CH4/H2O ratios of 1/1-1/4, 500-900 degC, 10-50 bar, and 100-300 mL/min. The R2 reactor was evaluated at H2/CO = 0.5-2, 200-350 degC, and 5-25 bar using bifunctional catalysts. The integrated configuration allows water and CO2 management before DME synthesis and enables product purification by distillation. The proposed scheme provides a practical basis for laboratory and pilot-scale Bio-DME development. The integrated process scheme provides a complete engineering framework from waste conversion to purified Bio-DME. The inclusion of CO2 separation and recycle, GC monitoring at reactor outlets, and distillation-based purification makes the system suitable for laboratory validation and pilot-scale development.
