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Life Cycle Assessment of a Biodiesel Production Unit

Received: 15 March 2015     Accepted: 3 April 2015     Published: 14 April 2015
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Abstract

Carbon dioxide is one of the main compounds pointed as a cause for climate changes, mainly due to the accelerated use of fossil fuels. In order to measure the consumption of the resources that generate carbon dioxide and verify these compounds emissions, quantitative studies aren’t sufficient, but it is needed a proportion relation with the environmental impact. Hence, Life cycle analysis (LCA) studies are used to establish parameters to this relation, orientating which is the best way to be followed and also estimating, as close as possible to the reality, the degree of impacts that can be caused. In this paper a biodiesel plant LCA study is realized, using the model described in ISO 14040 groups. Biodiesel is an alternative renewable fuel to the common diesel. Despite been considered a “clean” fuel, its fabrication process involves environmental impacts. This paper quantifies those impacts, from a theoretical biodiesel plant data, and compares them with those generated on the biodiesel production. The conclusions achieved are that the carbon dioxide generated is greater than the consumed during the entire biodiesel life cycle. However, the biodiesel production generates about 174 times less carbon dioxide than the refining to obtain diesel. Besides, both diesel and biodiesel are responsible for Nitrogen oxide emissions (qualitatively) and it is possible estimate that the environmental impact generated by those emissions is similar between these fuels.

Published in American Journal of Chemical Engineering (Volume 3, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajche.20150302.11
Page(s) 25-29
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2015. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Life Cycle Assessment, Biodiesel, Diesel, Simulation, Environmental Impact, Carbon Dioxide, Production, Global Warming

References
[1] R. Brecha, “Ten Reasons to Take Peak Oil Seriously,” Sustainability, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 664–694, Feb. 2013.
[2] M. A. Oehlschlaeger, “Prospects for Biofuels: A Review,” J. Therm. Sci. Eng. Appl., vol. 5, no. 2, p. 021006, May 2013.
[3] S. Liu, H. Jia, B. Yin, Z. Xu, and T. Guan, “Investigation on Combustion Characteristics of Direct Injection Nature Inhale Diesel Engine Fuelled with Biodiesel,” 2009 AsiaPacific Power Energy Eng. Conf., vol. 2, pp. 38–41, 2010.
[4] A. Holma, K. Koponen, R. Antikainen, L. Lardon, P. Leskinen, and P. Roux, “Current limits of life cycle assessment framework in evaluating environmental sustainability – case of two evolving biofuel technologies,” J. Clean. Prod., vol. 54, pp. 215–228, Sep. 2013.
[5] ISO, ISO 14001 - Environmental Management Systems — Specification with Guidance for Use. Geneva, Switzerland.: International Organization for Standardization, 1996.
[6] ISO, ISO 14040 International Standard. Environmental management – Life cycle assessment – Principles and framework. Geneva, Switzerland.: International Organisation for Standardization, 2006.
[7] ISO, ISO 14.044:2006. Geneva, Switzerland: International Organisation for Standardization, 2006.
[8] GreenDelta GmbH, “openLCA.” GreenDelta GmbH, Berlin, Germany, 2014.
[9] P. Sieira, E. B. F. Galante, W. A. Gonzales, and A. Haddad, “Life cycle inventory of a biodiesel production unit in Brazil,” Am. J. Chem. Eng., vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 1–7, 2014.
[10] Omni Tech International, “Life Cycle Impact of Soybean Production and Soy Industrial Products,” Washington, USA, 2010.
[11] C. M. Piekarski, L. Mendes, L. Zocche, and A. C. De Francisco, “Revista Gestão Industrial MÉTODOS DE AVALIAÇÃO DE IMPACTOS DO CICLO DE VIDA : ESPECIFICIDADES BRASILEIRAS LIFE CYCLE IMPACT ASSESSMENT METHODS : A DISCUSSION OF METHODS ADOPTION IN BRAZILIAN SPECIFITIES,” pp. 222–240, 2012.
[12] S. Pinzi, D. Leiva, I. López-García, M. D. Redel-Macías, and M. P. Dorado, “Latest trends in feedstocks for biodiesel production,” Biofuels, Bioprod. Biorefining, p. n/a–n/a, Aug. 2013.
[13] K. A. Costa, “A UTILIZAÇÃO DA AVALIAÇÃO DO CICLO DE VIDA NO PROCESSO DE TOMADA DE DECISÃO EM SUSTENTABILIDADE NA INDÚSTRIA DA CONSTRUÇÃO NO SUBSETOR DE EDIFICAÇÕES,” UFF, 2012.
[14] R. A. B. Costa, “ESTUDO DAS EFICIÊNCIAS DE OPERAÇÃO E CONSUMO DE,” 2009.
[15] M. Hajbabaei, K. C. Johnson, R. A. Okamoto, A. Mitchell, M. Pullman, and T. D. Durbin, “Evaluation of the impacts of biodiesel and second generation biofuels on NO(x) emissions for CARB diesel fuels.,” Environ. Sci. Technol., vol. 46, no. 16, pp. 9163–73, Aug. 2012.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Priscilla Sieira, Erick B. F. Galante, Alvaro J. Boareto Mendes, Assed Haddad. (2015). Life Cycle Assessment of a Biodiesel Production Unit. American Journal of Chemical Engineering, 3(2), 25-29. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajche.20150302.11

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    ACS Style

    Priscilla Sieira; Erick B. F. Galante; Alvaro J. Boareto Mendes; Assed Haddad. Life Cycle Assessment of a Biodiesel Production Unit. Am. J. Chem. Eng. 2015, 3(2), 25-29. doi: 10.11648/j.ajche.20150302.11

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    AMA Style

    Priscilla Sieira, Erick B. F. Galante, Alvaro J. Boareto Mendes, Assed Haddad. Life Cycle Assessment of a Biodiesel Production Unit. Am J Chem Eng. 2015;3(2):25-29. doi: 10.11648/j.ajche.20150302.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajche.20150302.11,
      author = {Priscilla Sieira and Erick B. F. Galante and Alvaro J. Boareto Mendes and Assed Haddad},
      title = {Life Cycle Assessment of a Biodiesel Production Unit},
      journal = {American Journal of Chemical Engineering},
      volume = {3},
      number = {2},
      pages = {25-29},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajche.20150302.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajche.20150302.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajche.20150302.11},
      abstract = {Carbon dioxide is one of the main compounds pointed as a cause for climate changes, mainly due to the accelerated use of fossil fuels. In order to measure the consumption of the resources that generate carbon dioxide and verify these compounds emissions, quantitative studies aren’t sufficient, but it is needed a proportion relation with the environmental impact. Hence, Life cycle analysis (LCA) studies are used to establish parameters to this relation, orientating which is the best way to be followed and also estimating, as close as possible to the reality, the degree of impacts that can be caused. In this paper a biodiesel plant LCA study is realized, using the model described in ISO 14040 groups. Biodiesel is an alternative renewable fuel to the common diesel. Despite been considered a “clean” fuel, its fabrication process involves environmental impacts. This paper quantifies those impacts, from a theoretical biodiesel plant data, and compares them with those generated on the biodiesel production. The conclusions achieved are that the carbon dioxide generated is greater than the consumed during the entire biodiesel life cycle. However, the biodiesel production generates about 174 times less carbon dioxide than the refining to obtain diesel. Besides, both diesel and biodiesel are responsible for Nitrogen oxide emissions (qualitatively) and it is possible estimate that the environmental impact generated by those emissions is similar between these fuels.},
     year = {2015}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Life Cycle Assessment of a Biodiesel Production Unit
    AU  - Priscilla Sieira
    AU  - Erick B. F. Galante
    AU  - Alvaro J. Boareto Mendes
    AU  - Assed Haddad
    Y1  - 2015/04/14
    PY  - 2015
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajche.20150302.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajche.20150302.11
    T2  - American Journal of Chemical Engineering
    JF  - American Journal of Chemical Engineering
    JO  - American Journal of Chemical Engineering
    SP  - 25
    EP  - 29
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-8613
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajche.20150302.11
    AB  - Carbon dioxide is one of the main compounds pointed as a cause for climate changes, mainly due to the accelerated use of fossil fuels. In order to measure the consumption of the resources that generate carbon dioxide and verify these compounds emissions, quantitative studies aren’t sufficient, but it is needed a proportion relation with the environmental impact. Hence, Life cycle analysis (LCA) studies are used to establish parameters to this relation, orientating which is the best way to be followed and also estimating, as close as possible to the reality, the degree of impacts that can be caused. In this paper a biodiesel plant LCA study is realized, using the model described in ISO 14040 groups. Biodiesel is an alternative renewable fuel to the common diesel. Despite been considered a “clean” fuel, its fabrication process involves environmental impacts. This paper quantifies those impacts, from a theoretical biodiesel plant data, and compares them with those generated on the biodiesel production. The conclusions achieved are that the carbon dioxide generated is greater than the consumed during the entire biodiesel life cycle. However, the biodiesel production generates about 174 times less carbon dioxide than the refining to obtain diesel. Besides, both diesel and biodiesel are responsible for Nitrogen oxide emissions (qualitatively) and it is possible estimate that the environmental impact generated by those emissions is similar between these fuels.
    VL  - 3
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Instituto Militar de Engenharia, Department of Chemical Engineering, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

  • Instituto Militar de Engenharia, Department of Chemical Engineering, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

  • Instituto Militar de Engenharia, Department of Chemical Engineering, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

  • Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Department of Civil Engineering, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

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