Comparative Life Cycle Analysis of Bio-Oil Produced by Pyrolysis of Wood and Cotton Waste

Abstract

This report compares the energy efficiency, carbon dioxide emissions, and overall environmental impact of two pyrolysis processes: pyrolysis of textile waste and the pyrolysis of wood chips. This report quantifies the environmental impact of each process by utilizing both primary and secondary data in a comprehensive manner to provide insight into their respective sustainability. LCA is performed according to the methodology described on "ISO 14000 series of standards (ISO 2006)" standards using Open LCA. From Aspen, input parameters and mass and energy balances were derived. Bio-oil was compared with residual fuel oil as a heating fuel using mass and energy balances input into SimaPro. To demonstrate environmental preference, equivalent functional units of 1 Kg were used for categories such as fossil fuel use and global warming potential. Wood chip-based Bio-oil was found to be near carbon neutral. By substituting wood bio-oil for cotton bio-oil, based on the carbon emissions of the two fuels, it was estimated that CO2 emissions would be 0.0596Kg for 1kg of Bio oil, in other words it will be reduced by 98.68% compared to cotton bio-oil. It is estimated that the bio-oil production life-cycle stage consumed 92 percent of the total cradle-to-grave energy requirement, while feedstock collection, preparation, and transportation consumed 4 percent. Through the application of this model, we can better understand the major factors affecting greenhouse gas emissions related to the production of bio-oil and its conversion into boiler fuel during fast pyrolysis.