Life cycle analysis of energy production from food waste through anaerobic digestion, pyrolysis and integrated energy system

Opatokun, Suraj Adebayo ; Lopez-Sabiron, Ana ; Ferreira, German ; Strezov, Vladimir

Resumen: 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.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.3390/su9101804

Año: 2017

Publicado en: Sustainability (Switzerland) 9, 10 (2017), [15 pp]
ISSN: 2071-1050

Factor impacto JCR: 2.075 (2017)

Categ. JCR: ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES rank: 51 / 108 = 0.472 (2017) - Q2 - T2
Categ. JCR: GREEN & SUSTAINABLE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY rank: 3 / 6 = 0.5 (2017) - Q2 - T2
Categ. JCR: GREEN & SUSTAINABLE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY rank: 21 / 33 = 0.636 (2017) - Q3 - T2
Categ. JCR: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES rank: 120 / 241 = 0.498 (2017) - Q2 - T2

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 0.537 - Geography, Planning and Development (Q2) - Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law (Q2) - Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment (Q3)

Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)