Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
3.3.10. Organic juice
Organic juice refers to the liquid phase which can be obtained after pressing of fresh
biomass feedstock such as grasses, vegetables, fruits and others. This organic fraction is
extremely reach of chemical compounds dispersed in an aqueous solution, mainly organic
acids of different size and proteins, which can be extracted and concentrated in order to
become value added products.
4.
L
IFE
C
YCLE
A
SSESSMENT OF
B
IOREFINERY
S
YSTEMS
:
A
C
ASE
S
TUDY
4.1. Introduction to LCA
In order to investigate all the environmental aspects of biorefinery systems, an evaluation
by means of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the full production chain, from supply of raw
materials to final use of products, is required.
A Life Cycle Assessment study is a tool for evaluating environmental impacts associated
with a product, process, or service by identifying energy and materials used and emissions
released to the environment; moreover it also allows an identification of opportunities for
environmental improvements (Consoli et al., 1993; Lindfors et al., 1995). A typical LCA
study consists of the following stages:
1. Goal and scope definition (ISO 14041);
2. Life cycle inventory (LCI) analysis, with compilation of data both about energy and
material flows and on emissions to the environment, throughout the life cycle of the case
study (ISO 14041);
3. Assessment of the potential impacts (Life Cycle Impact Assessment, LCIA) associated
with the identified forms of resource use and environmental emissions (ISO 14042);
4. Interpretation of the results from the previous phases of the study in relation to the
objectives of the study (ISO 14043).
4.2. Goal and Scope Definition
The goal and scope definition is the first part of an LCA, where the purpose, the scope,
the functional unit and the system boundary of the assessment are described.
The aim of this work is to analyze a biorefinery system by means of LCA. The
investigated biorefinery is a system where several conversion technologies are jointly applied
to produce transportation biofuels, bioenergy and material products. The products of the
biorefinery are the following:
1.
Transportation biofuels: bioethanol and methyltetrahydrofuran (MTHF);
2.
Bioenergy carriers: biomethane, hydrogen, electricity and heat;
3.
Biomaterials: furan resins, fumaric acid (FUMA) and oxygen.
