Toward Sustainable Biomanufacturing: A Feasibility Index for Silicon Carbide Production from Rice Waste

Fabio Gualandri () and Aleksandra Kuzior ()
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Fabio Gualandri: eQ-3 AG, 26789 Leer, Germany
Aleksandra Kuzior: Department of Applied Social Sciences, Faculty of Organization and Management, Silesian University of Technology, Roosevelt’s Str. 26-28, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 12, 1-19

Abstract: Silicon carbide, known for its distinct chemical and physical properties, is increasingly recognized as a critical material in sectors such as energy, space, and defense. Traditional production methods like the Acheson process are energy-intensive and costly, both in terms of investment and maintenance. Additionally, the concentrated nature of its manufacturing can lead to supply bottlenecks, hindering technological progress in key areas. To address these issues, this paper proposes a circular economy approach to silicon carbide production, leveraging the ecological challenge of rice waste disposal to create a new source of silica materials. It includes an evaluation of the economic and technological feasibility of this method and introduces a multidimensional composite index to identify potential early adopters for large-scale implementation. This innovative approach not only reduces reliance on critical minerals but also offers a solution to managing agricultural waste.

Keywords: circular economy; biomanufacturing; silicon carbide; agricultural waste; waste recycling; critical metals; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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