Process Design and Techno-Economic Assessment of Ethyl Acetate Synthesis from CO ₂

The electrosynthesis of ethyl acetate (EA) from CO2 offers a promising route toward carbon-neutral chemical manufacturing. Here, we perform a comparative techno-economic analysis of four CO2-based EA production pathways─acetaldehyde condensation, ethanol dehydrogenation, acetic acid–ethanol esterification, and ethylene addition─integrating process modeling, energy flow assessment, and multiparameter sensitivity analysis. The acetaldehyde route emerges as the most viable, with a minimum selling price of 1380 € and marked resilience to fluctuations in electricity and CO2 costs. In contrast, the other routes remain economically constrained under current market conditions. Electricity price is identified as the principal cost driver across all pathways. Future efforts should focus on catalytic integration, process intensification, and deployment of direct air capture systems, enabling a transition toward climate-positive EA production.