Title:
Life Cycle Assessment of Torrefaction and Hydrothermal Carbonization of Olive Husk
Author(s):
Christoforou, E., Fokaides, P.
Document(s):
Paper
Poster
Abstract:
The mitigation of the environmental impact and the further development of the existing technologies for the treatment and exploitation of biomass resources towards biofuels, currently consist a major scientific challenge. This study aims to the comparative assessment using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of two alternative technologies for upgrading solid biofuels: torrefaction and hydrothermal carbonization. In terms of this study olive husk, a biomass source widely used in the Mediterranean basin, is considered. The environmental footprint of each process is evaluated using GaBi 6 software and the CML 2001 impact assessment methodology. The examined impact categories consist of the global warming potential (GWP), acidification potential, eutrophication potential (EP), and abiotic depletion potential (ADP-fossils), since they indicate the most significant environmental issues with regard to the energy sector.The study indicated the effect of the water content of the biomass feedstock and the importance of the drying process. The study confirmed the statement that torrefaction is not energetically feasible compared to HTC when wet biomass feedstock with high water content is processed.
Keywords:
life cycle assessment (LCA), torrefaction, solid biofuel, hydrothermal carbonization
Topic:
Biomass Policies, Markets and Sustainability
Subtopic:
Environmental impacts of bioenergy
Event:
23rd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
4AV.2.11
Pages:
1516 - 1520
ISBN:
978-88-89407-516
Paper DOI:
10.5071/23rdEUBCE2015-4AV.2.11
Price:
FREE
