Bioethanol from waste: Life cycle estimation of the greenhouse gas saving potential

Heinz Stichnothe and Adisa Azapagic

Resources, Conservation & Recycling, 2009, vol. 53, issue 11, 624-630

Abstract: This paper considers two alternative feedstocks for bioethanol production, both derived from household waste—Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) and Biodegradable Municipal Waste (BMW). Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has been carried out to estimate the GHG emissions from bioethanol using these two feedstocks. An integrated waste management system has been considered, taking into account recycling of materials and production of bioethanol in a combined gasification/bio-catalytic process. For the functional unit defined as the ‘total amount of waste treated in the integrated waste management system’, the best option is to produce bioethanol from RDF—this saves up to 196kg CO2 equiv. per tonne of MSW, compared to the current waste management practice in the UK.

Keywords: Bioethanol; Greenhouse gas emissions; Waste management; LCA; Transport fuels; Recycling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:recore:v:53:y:2009:i:11:p:624-630

DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2009.04.012

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