这项工作使用数学优化方法来分析和比较以人工方式捕获二氧化碳（CO ₂ ）或以木质纤维素形式自然捕获的CO ₂ 的设施。将生物质用于生产相同的产品二甲醚（DME）。自然界中，植物通过光合作用捕获CO ₂ 以生长。这里讨论的第一个过程的设计基于上层结构优化方法，以便选择将木质纤维素生物质转化为DME的技术。生物质被气化；接下来，必须先使用重整，洗涤和碳捕获技术纯化粗制合成气，然后才能将其用于直接生产DME。或者，可以捕获CO ₂ 并用于通过氢化生产DME。氢（H ₂ ）是通过利用太阳能将水分解而产生的。已经设计了基于光伏（PV）太阳能或聚光太阳能（CSP）技术的设施；他们的月度运行基于太阳能的可用性，是使用多周期方法确定的。当前的技术发展水平使生物质具有碳捕集技术的优势，因为耗水量和经济参数均对其有利。但是，由于生长生物质所需的面积和消耗的水总量（如果还要考虑植物的生长），使用生物质的决定并不是一个简单的决定。

This work uses a mathematical optimization approach to analyze and compare facilities that either capture carbon dioxide (CO₂) artificially or use naturally captured CO₂ in the form of lignocellulosic biomass toward the production of the same product, dimethyl ether (DME). In nature, plants capture CO₂ via photosynthesis in order to grow. The design of the first process discussed here is based on a superstructure optimization approach in order to select technologies that transform lignocellulosic biomass into DME. Biomass is gasified; next, the raw syngas must be purified using reforming, scrubbing, and carbon capture technologies before it can be used to directly produce DME. Alternatively, CO₂ can be captured and used to produce DME via hydrogenation. Hydrogen (H₂) is produced by splitting water using solar energy. Facilities based on both photovoltaic (PV) solar or concentrated solar power (CSP) technologies have been designed; their monthly operation, which is based on solar availability, is determined using a multi-period approach. The current level of technological development gives biomass an advantage as a carbon capture technology, since both water consumption and economic parameters are in its favor. However, due to the area required for growing biomass and the total amount of water consumed (if plant growing is also accounted for), the decision to use biomass is not a straightforward one.