Socio-economic and environmental aspects of bio-LPG and bio-dimethyl ether (Bio-DME) production and usage in developing countries: The case of Brazil

The production of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from biomass, biogas or waste to produce so-called bio-LPG has the potential to be more sustainable with a lower carbon footprint than fossil fuel LPG. In Brazil 13.6 million m3 of LPG are consumed and 80% of this is consumed in the residential sector. Therefore, there is an opportunity to displace LPG and firewood with bio-LPG. The aim of this research is to investigate the socio-economic viability and environmental aspects of bio-LPG and dimethyl ether (bio-DME) production from waste in developing countries. Using Brazil as a case study, data on LPG demand and supply, as well as the cost of production has been collected in order to determine the size of the potential market for bio-LPG nationally. A review of scientific literature on bio-LPG and DME production is conducted in order to map the market potential of these new technologies. The availability of waste feedstocks for second-generation biofuels will be estimated as well as the potential yield of bio-LPG and bio-DME from different agricultural residues and waste products. Besides the commercialised process of hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) to produce biodiesel and bio-LPG, it is expected that the process of converting organic wastes (such as cellulose) into biogas and synthesizing LPG, as well the production of bio-DME from biomass waste have the greatest potentials.