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Environmental impact assessment of olive pomace oil biodiesel production and consumption: A comparative lifecycle assessment

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Mohammad RajaeifarORCiD

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Abstract

The well-to-wheel environmental impacts of olive pomace oil biodiesel (B20 and B100) and conventional petroleum diesel were compared using life cycle assessment. Moreover, energy and economic analyses of olive pomace oil biodiesel production was conducted throughout its life cycle. Human Health, Ecosystem Quality, Climate Change and Resources were the selected end-point impact categories. Comparing biodiesel with petroleum diesel, significant environmental tradeoffs exist between the Climate Change and Resources damage categories. Moreover, biodiesel was found to require some corrective practices (in the view of agricultural and combustion stages) in order to be more eco-friendly in all the mentioned damage categories. Having pursued the suggestions of this study, for the B100, the minimum reduction rates of 30–32% and 24–26% in the Human Health and Ecosystem Quality damage categories could be expected, respectively. While for the B20, these reduction rates would be at least 19–22% and 14–16%, respectively. This could be promising especially for the B20 blend as a good alternative for petroleum diesel. On the other hand, lifecycle energy assessment revealed promising energy indices (e.g., fossil energy ratio of 1.22–1.33). Finally, economic analysis showed a benefit-to-cost ratio of 1.45 revealing the economic viability of olive pomace oil biodiesel production.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Rajaeifar MA, Akram A, Ghobadian B, Rafiee SH, Heijungs R, Tabatabaei M

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Energy

Year: 2016

Volume: 106

Pages: 87-102

Print publication date: 01/07/2016

Online publication date: 01/04/2016

Acceptance date: 04/03/2016

ISSN (print): 0360-5442

ISSN (electronic): 1873-6785

Publisher: Elsevier

URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2016.03.010

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2016.03.010

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