Life-Cycle Assessment of Biorefineries

Life-Cycle Assessment of Biorefineries, the sixth and last book in the series on biomass-biorefineries discusses the unprecedented growth and development in the emerging concept of a global bio-based economy in which biomass-based biorefineries have attained center stage for the production of fuels and chemicals.

It is envisaged that by 2020 a majority of chemicals currently being produced through a chemical route will be produced via a bio-based route. Agro-industrial residues, municipal solid wastes, and forestry wastes have been considered as the most significant feedstocks for such bio-refineries. However, for the techno-economic success of such biorefineries, it is of prime and utmost importance to understand their lifecycle assessment for various aspects.

• Provides state-of-art information on the basics and fundamental principles of LCA for biorefineries
• Contains key features for the education and understanding of integrated biorefineries
• Presents models that are used to cope with land-use changes and their effects on biorefineries
• Includes relevant case studies that illustrate main points

Primary readers are chemist and (bio) chemical engineering PG/PhD students; Postdoctorate researchers in academia and industry; Engineers (process engineers) in bio-industries; consultants and policy makers. The book is useful for students and researchers engaged in postgraduate or masters programs leading to MSc, MTech or MS degree in Biotechnology, Industrial Biotechnology, Biochemical Engineering, Biological Engineering, Biotechnology & Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering.

Chapter 1: Classification of Biorefineries Taking into Account Sustainability Potentials and Flexibility

• Abstract
• 1.1 Introduction
• 1.2 Classification Systems
• 1.3 Revisiting the Classification System—Goals and Scopes of Biorefineries
• 1.4 Inclusion of Sustainability in the Classification System
• 1.5 Inclusion of Flexibility
• 1.6 The Rationale of Public and Private Incentives: The Role of Classification
• 1.7 Conclusions and Perspectives

Chapter 2: Fundamentals of Life Cycle Assessment and Specificity of Biorefineries

• Abstract
• 2.1 Life Cycle Assessment: From Infancy to a Standardized Methodology
• 2.2 Definition of the Goal and Scope
• 2.3 Life Cycle Inventory
• 2.4 Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA)
• 2.5 Interpretation
• 2.6 Imprecision, Uncertainties and Meaningfulness in LCA
• 2.7 Extension of Environmental Life Cycle Assessment
• 2.8 Conclusion and Perspectives

Chapter 3: Life-Cycle Assessment of Agricultural Feedstock for Biorefineries

• Abstract
• 3.1 Introduction
• 3.2 Agricultural Residues
• 3.3 Agricultural Crops
• 3.4 Overall Comparison of Feedstocks and Land-Use Change Effects
• 3.5 Conclusions and Perspectives

Chapter 4: Life Cycle Assessment of Sugar Crops and Starch-Based Integrated Biorefineries

• Abstract
• 4.1 Introduction
• 4.2 Objectives and Scope
• 4.3 Process Design
• 4.4 Comparative LCA
• 4.5 Conclusions and Perspectives
• Appendix Combustion performance of 1 MJ of lignocellulosic feedstock (bagasse)

Chapter 5: Life Cycle Assessment of Vetiver-Based Biorefinery With Production of Bioethanol and Furfural

• Abstract
• 5.1 Introduction
• 5.2 Process Description
• 5.3 Experiments and Data Inventory
• 5.4 Life Cycle Assessment
• 5.5 Conclusions and Perspectives

Chapter 6: Life Cycle Assessment of Thermochemical Conversion of Empty Fruit Bunch of Oil Palm to Bio-Methane

• Abstract
• Acknowledgments
• 6.1 Introduction
• 6.2 Hydrothermal Gasification: Process Design
• 6.3 Life Cycle Inventory
• 6.4 Impact Assessment
• 6.5 Conclusions and Perspectives

Chapter 7: Life Cycle Assessment of Algal Biorefinery

• Abstract
• 7.1 Introduction
• 7.2 Process Description
• 7.3 Life Cycle Inventory
• 7.4 Sensitivity Analysis
• 7.5 Impact Assessment
• 7.6 Conclusions and Perspectives

Chapter 8: Life Cycle Assessment and Land-Use Changes: Effectiveness and Limitations

• Abstract
• 8.1 Introduction
• 8.2 A Typology of LUCs
• 8.3 Complexity of LUC Mechanisms
• 8.4 Monitoring: Use of Historical Data and Statistical Analysis
• 8.5 Expert-Based Opinions
• 8.6 Economic Equilibrium Models
• 8.7 Accuracy of Biofuels Chains’ LCAs: Importance of Accounting for LUC Effects
• 8.8 Conclusions and Perspectives

Chapter 9: Modeling Land-Use Change Effects of Biofuel Policies: Coupling Economic Models and LCA

• Abstract
• 9.1 Introduction
• 9.2 Main Economic Models
• 9.3 Main Coupling Approaches
• 9.4 Typical Implementation and Results
• 9.5 Implementation in Biofuels Policy and Regulation
• 9.6 Conclusions and Perspectives
• Annex 9.1 Selected Model Applications to Assess the LUC Effects of Biofuel Policies

Chapter 10: Towards an Integrated Sustainability Assessment of Biorefineries

• Abstract
• 10.1 Introduction
• 10.2 Sustainability Definition
• 10.3 Limitations of LCA
• 10.4 Other Environmental Issues
• 10.5 Economic Issues
• 10.6 Social Issues
• 10.7 Multicriteria and Multiactor Assessment
• 10.8 Assessment Perspectives and Development
• 10.9 Conclusions and Perspectives