A Review of Life Cycle of Ethanol Produced from Biosyngas
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BIOETHANOL Research Article • DOI: 10.2478/bioeth-2013-0001 • BIOETH • 2013 • 9–19 A Review of Life Cycle of Ethanol Produced from Biosyngas Abstract Poritosh Roy*, Animesh Dutta# This review compiled the life cycle (LC) studies on ethanol produced via gasification of biomass centering on greenhouse gas (GHG) emission and production cost to discuss their potential environmental and School of Engineering, socioeconomic impacts. Numerous efforts have been made to evaluate University of Guelph, the LC of ethanol produced with biosynthesis (gasification-microbial Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada fermentation) and chemical synthesis (gasification-catalytic synthesis) of syngas produced from biomass (hereafter referred to biosyngas), and deals with system boundary, feedstock, energy paths and utilization of by-products to determine the environmental impacts as well as the production cost. It seems that most of the LC studies were conducted based on different research targets. Most of the reviewed studies support the environmental and economic viability of ethanol except for a few examples. A wide variation was observed in the reported GHG emission and production cost of ethanol which are dependent on the system boundary and assumptions, feedstock, conversion technologies and plant sizes. Consequently, in-depth studies are needed for each stage of the LC of ethanol from biosyngas for any future investment, commercial production, and sustainability. Moreover, a careful consideration has to be placed on the land use change and soil quality and their rebound effects if lignocellulosic biomass is to be put to use in the ethanol industry. Keywords Biomass • biosyngas • ethanol • life cycle (LC) • GHG emissions • production cost • LCA Received 09 May 2013 © Versita Sp. z o.o. Accepted 29 June 2013 1. Introduction as a universally accepted approach for determining the environmental consequences of a particular product, process The growing concerns about climate change, rising costs of or activity through its entire life cycle [9]. Although both fossil fuel, and the geo-political uncertainty associated with biochemical and thermochemical conversion technologies an uninterrupted energy supply have motivated individuals, are used for ethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass, organizations and nations to look for substitutes that are clean biochemical dominates over thermochemical process [10]. and renewable. Bioethanol is widely recognized alternative to Many researchers have reviewed LCA studies of lignocellulosic fossil fuel. The Renewable Energy Regulation (SOR/2010-189) ethanol, mostly using biochemical process [11-20]; however, was enacted on July 1, 2011 in Canada which requires fuel LCAs of the thermochemical process have not been reviewed producers and importers of gasoline to have renewable fuel yet. Thus, this paper aims to compile the recent LCA studies of content of at least 5% of distillates (by volume) that they produce ethanol produced from biosyngas, and to discuss the energetic, and import yearly [1]. First generation biofuels (bioethanol and environmental and socioeconomic aspects of the lignocellulosic biodiesel) are produced from food or feed grains, thus compete ethanol industry. with food or feed and contribute to higher food prices [2,3]. Lignocellulosic biomass is known to be abundant feedstock for 2. LCA Methodology lignocellulosic ethanol, hence, production of second generation Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a tool for evaluating environmental ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass has been emphasized, effects of a product, process, or activity throughout its life cycle because it does not compete with food or feed [4-8]. (LC) or lifetime, which is known as a ‘from cradle to grave’ Life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology is increasingly analysis. The LCA concept promoted, sponsored and developed being used in decision making processes related to by various national and international organizations and LCA environmental technologies and policies, and has emerged practitioners. Consequently, consensus has been achieved on an E-mail: *[email protected] #[email protected] Unauthenticated9 Download Date | 3/13/16 9:17 AM P. Roy, A. Dutta overall LCA framework and a well-defined inventory methodology 2.2 Inventory analysis [21]. The method is rapidly developed into an important tool The inventory analysis involves data collection on raw materials for authorities, industries, and individuals in environmental and energy consumption, emissions to air, water and soil, and sciences. A common methodological framework (“Version solid waste generation. The inventory analysis is the most Zero”) has been developed by the Global Bioenergy Partnership work intensive and time consuming phase in an LCA, mainly (GBEP) Task Force on GHG Methodologies that could be applied because of data collection. The data collection can be less time to the LCA of bioenergy production and compared to the full consuming if good databases are available and customers and lifecycle of its fossil fuel equivalent to improve the transparency suppliers are willing to help. Nowadays, many LCA databases and acceptance of the results [22]. Although a common LCA are exists and can normally be bought together with LCA methodology has been developed, it has both advantages and software. Data from databases can be used for processes that disadvantages. LCA methodology uses systematic approaches are not product specific, such as general data on the production to identify and quantify the environmental consequences and of electricity, coal or packaging. However, site-specific data are analyze them to determine where significant improvement can required for product specific data. Inputs are energy (renewable be made. However, the accuracy of a LCA results depend on the and non-renewable), water, raw materials etc. Outputs are the quality and the availability of the relevant data. The LCA results products and co-products, and emission to air, water and soil are also dependent on assumption, system boundary, aim of the and solid waste generation. study, and the geographical location of the study, which hinders direct comparison among LCA studies. 2.3 Impact assessment The LCA methodology consists of four components: Goal In the impact assessment phase, the inventory results are definition and scoping, Inventory analysis, Impact assessment assigned to different impact categories based on the expected and Interpretation. Figure 1 shows the stages of an LCA [23]. types of impacts on the environment. Impact categories include The purpose of an LCA can be: (1) comparison of alternative global effects (global warming, ozone depletion etc.); regional products, processes or services; (2) comparison of alternative effects (acidification, eutrophication, photo-oxidant formation LCs for a certain product or service; (3) identification of parts of etc.); local effects (nuisance, working conditions, effects of the LC where the greatest improvements can be made. hazardous waste, effects of solid waste etc). Generally, impact assessment consists of the following elements: classification, 2.1 Goal definition and scoping characterization, normalization and valuation. Classification Goal definition and scoping defines the purpose of the study, process assign and aggregate life cycle inventory (LCI) data into expected product, system boundary, functional unit (FU) common impact groups. Characterization is the assessment of and assumptions. The system boundary is often illustrated the magnitude of potential impacts of each inventory flow into its by a general input and output flow diagram which includes corresponding environmental impact (e.g., modeling the potential all operations that contribute to the life cycle of the product, impact of carbon dioxide and methane on global warming). process, or activity. A reference unit to which the inventory Normalization process communicates impacts in ways that data are normalized is known as the functional unit (FU). can be compared (e.g., comparing the global warming impact The FU depends on the environmental impact category and of carbon dioxide and methane for the two options). Valuation aims of the study. The functional unit is often based on the process allocates the relative importance of environmental mass (kg) or volume (L) of the product under study; however, burdens identified in the classification, characterization, and distance (km), land area (ha), energy (MJ) and economic normalization stages by weighting, which allows them to be values are also used. compared or aggregated. Life cycle assessment framework Goal and scope definition Direct applications: - Product development and improvement - Strategic planning Inventory analysis - Public policy making - Marketing Interpretation - Other Impact assessment Figure 1. Stages of an LCA [23]. Unauthenticated10 Download Date | 3/13/16 9:17 AM A Review of Life Cycle of Ethanol Produced from Biosyngas 2.4 Interpretation (Eq. 4). Figure 2 depicts the stages of ethanol production Interpretation is a systematic technique to identify and quantify, process via biomass gasification and catalytic and microbial check and evaluate information from the results of life cycle fermentation. inventory (LCI) and life cycle impact assessment (LCIA), and 6CO + 3H2O → C2H5OH+ 4CO2 (Eq. 1) communicate them effectively. The inventory and impact 6H2 + 2CO2 →C2H5OH + 3H2O (Eq. 2) assessment results are discussed together in the case of a life 6CO + 6H2 → 2C2H5OH + 2CO2 (Eq. 3) cycle impact assessment (LCIA), or