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Life-Cycle Environmental Impacts of Biofuels and Co-products

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Biofuel Technologies

Abstract

Issues of energy independence and security, global climate change, and the depletion of fossil resources drive research into biofuels and bioproducts. While emerging biofuels and biorefineries pursue lower carbon transportation fuels, careful consideration of a wide range of potential environmental impacts is necessary to avoid unintended consequences. These concerns can be addressed by holistic life-cycle evaluation of bioenergy/biofuel supply chains from raw materials acquisition, to fuel conversion and end use. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a promising tool for assessing the environmental sustainability of these biofuels. This chapter discusses current biofeedstocks and fuels, introduces the methodological framework of LCA, and explores challenges, critiques, benefits, and applications of LCA in evaluating the environmental performance and sustainability of emergent biofuels and co-product systems. An analysis of algal biodiesel production is presented as a case study, and the broader implications and potential of LCA to inform decision making are explored.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 3700 O’Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA

    Gregory Zaimes, Matthew Borkowski & Vikas Khanna

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  2. Matthew Borkowski
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  3. Vikas Khanna
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Correspondence to Vikas Khanna .

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  1. , Department of Biochemistry, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, Galway, N/A, Ireland

    Vijai Kumar Gupta

  2. , Department of Biochemistry, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, Galway, N/A, Ireland

    Maria G. Tuohy

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Zaimes, G., Borkowski, M., Khanna, V. (2013). Life-Cycle Environmental Impacts of Biofuels and Co-products. In: Gupta, V., Tuohy, M. (eds) Biofuel Technologies. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-34519-7_18

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