Systematic Review on the Life Cycle Assessment of Manure-Based Anaerobic Digestion System

Xiaoqin Wang (), Jia Wang, Congcong Duan, Xinjing Wang and Dongli Liang
Additional contact information
Xiaoqin Wang: College of Nature Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Jia Wang: College of Nature Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Congcong Duan: College of Nature Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Xinjing Wang: College of Nature Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Dongli Liang: College of Nature Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 19, 1-27

Abstract: Manure-based anaerobic digestion (AD) systems serve multiple functions, including waste treatment, energy recovery, and nutrient cycling. However, they also entail additional energy consumption and pollutant emissions. Life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology is typically used to holistically quantify the actual environmental impacts of these systems. Nevertheless, comprehensive reviews synthesizing LCA studies in this field remain limited. Following PRISMA guidelines, this study conducted a systematic literature review of LCA studies on manure-based AD systems, focusing on advancements, inconsistencies, and limitations in LCA methodologies and environmental impact results. The findings indicate considerable variability in functional units, allocation methods, system boundaries, and inventory analysis methods across the literature. These methodological discrepancies and the lack of standardized protocols result in remarkable variability in environmental impact potentials. Additionally, there is lack of consensus on the environmental benefits of AD systems compared to traditional manure management, and co-digestion with energy crops or food waste compared to mono-digestion of manure. Consequently, the environmental impacts of manure-based AD systems remain inconclusive due to methodological heterogeneity and data inconsistencies. Future research should develop scientific and standardized approaches and focus on the completeness of system boundaries, selection of key environmental impact categories, environmental load allocation, inventory data quality, and the transparency of the analysis.

Keywords: livestock manure; anaerobic digestion; life cycle assessment; lost opportunity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/19/8926/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/19/8926/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:19:p:8926-:d:1766816

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().