Sustainability Evaluation of Non-Toxic Jatropha curcas in Rural Marginal Soil for Obtaining Biodiesel Using Life-Cycle Assessment

Guadalupe Pérez and Jorge M. Islas-Samperio
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Guadalupe Pérez: Instituto de Energías Renovables, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Privada Xochicalco S/N, Centro, Temixco, Morelos 62580, Mexico
Jorge M. Islas-Samperio: Instituto de Energías Renovables, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Privada Xochicalco S/N, Centro, Temixco, Morelos 62580, Mexico

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 10, 1-21

Abstract: Using information from an experimental planting of non-toxic Jatropha curcas (NTJC) with minimal water and fertilization resources on rural marginal soil the objective of this article is to determine the sustainability of this raw material for producing biodiesel and the possibilities for improving it through life-cycle assessment (LCA). Three production scenarios were studied: minimal resources (MR), which focuses on the obtaining of biodiesel; minimal resources and utilization of sub-products (MRUS), which includes the utilization of the residual products in order to produce food and solid biofuels, as well as biodiesel; and utilization of biofertilizers, flood irrigation, and sub-products (UBIS), which incorporates the use of bio-fertilizers and irrigation in the production system. This study includes the selection of six sustainability indicators, as well as indicators by means of LCA methodology Finally, a sustainability index (SI) for each scenario was determined on the basis of an index of environmental sustainability of energy products (IESEP). Our results indicated that the MR scenario yielded the lowest SI 0.673, while the MRUS scenario had the highest SI 0.956. It concludes that sustainability is greater when it utilizes minimal water and fertilization resources during the raw material production stage, and the residual products are used for food and energy products made possible by the non-toxic properties of Jatropha curcas .

Keywords: non-toxic Jatropha curcas; LCA; sustainability index; sustainability indicators; biodiesel production scenarios (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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