Life cycle assessment for sustainability assessment of biofuels and bioproducts

Abstract

Bio-based materials have been used traditionally for millennia. Their use was overtaken in recent times by the discovery and utilization of fossil-based resources for materials and energy. However, concerns about the non-renewability of fossil resources and greenhouse gas and other emissions associated with their use have brought forth a renewed interest in using bio-based materials in recent years. The environmental advantages of bio-based materials cannot be taken for granted without a rigorous scientific assessment. Many tools based on energy, economics, and environmental impacts have been used. Life cycle assessment is one such tool developed and successfully utilized for the environmental assessment of biofuels and bioproducts. However, many methodological challenges, among other things related to system boundaries, functional units, allocation, and carbon accounting, still need further research and consideration. In this work, the related issues are summarized, and the directions for addressing them are discussed. Despite the methodological challenges in their assessment, biofuels and bioproducts show promise in terms of their environmental advantages compared to their fossil-oriented counterparts. These advantages can be further enhanced by utilizing all parts of the feedstock biomass, especially for value-added materials and chemicals via biorefineries.

In silico design of multipoint mutants for enhanced performance of Thermomyces lanuginosus lipase for efficient biodiesel production

“…Besides deep investigation on lipases performing effectively in biodiesel green production, there are other processes needing further researches to realize the sustainability of biofuels according to life cycle analysis, such as utilization of renewable resources (biomass), good agricultural practices at the cultivation stage, and efficient logistics and transportation [ 60 , 61 ].…”

A biorefinery model for the production of oil and biomethane using castor plants

“…Therefore, extensive studies are required to assess the economic, social, and environmental aspects of process sustainability from crop cultivation to bioproduct conversion in a biorefinery approach. Recently, several studies (Aghbashlo et al, 2022; Gheewala, 2023; Khoshnevisan et al, 2018) adopted different assessment methodologies based on LCA, energy, exergy, emergy, or a combination of these to identify the sustainability and environmental benefits of producing biofuels and bioproducts over their fossil‐derived counterparts, showing that these environmental advantages could be improved by using whole feedstock biomass for value‐added products and chemicals through biorefineries.…”

Waste-Derived Renewable Hydrogen and Methane: Towards a Potential Energy Transition Solution

“…LCA is being considered as a sustainable indicator of predicting the impacts of any process/product on the environment in terms of carbon footprints, emissions, global warming, etc. [118]. Although most biological processes are embracing the concept of 'carbon neutrality', wherein the biogenic CO 2 emitted is recycled/looped back for subsequent production of other products/energy, the concept still requires effort to become widely implemented.…”