Life Cycle Analysis of Energy Production from Food Waste through Anaerobic Digestion, Pyrolysis and Integrated Energy System

Suraj Adebayo Opatokun, Ana Lopez-Sabiron, German Ferreira and Vladimir Strezov
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Suraj Adebayo Opatokun: Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia
Ana Lopez-Sabiron: Research Centre for Energy Resources and Consumption (CIRCE), Campus Río Ebro, CIRCE Building Mariano Esquillor Gómez, 15, Zaragoza 50018, Spain
German Ferreira: Research Centre for Energy Resources and Consumption (CIRCE), Campus Río Ebro, CIRCE Building Mariano Esquillor Gómez, 15, Zaragoza 50018, Spain
Vladimir Strezov: Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia

Sustainability, 2017, vol. 9, issue 10, 1-15

Abstract: The environmental performance of industrial anaerobic digestion (AD), pyrolysis, and integrated system (AD sequence with pyrolysis) on food waste treatment were evaluated using life cycle assessment. The integrated treatment system indicated similar environmental benefits to AD with the highest benefits in climate change and water depletion in addition to the increased energy generation potential and the production of valuable products (biochar and bio-oil). Pyrolysis results illustrated higher impact across water, fossil fuel, and mineral depletion, although still providing a better option than conventional landfilling of food waste. The dewatering phase in the AD process accounted for 70% of the treatment impact while the pre-treatment of the food waste was responsible for the main burden in the pyrolysis process. The study indicated that the three treatment options of food waste management are environmentally more favorable than the conventional landfilling of the wastes.

Keywords: life cycle assessment; environment; End-of-Life (EOL); food waste; digestion; pyrolysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (11)

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