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Converting waste cooking oil to biodiesel in China: Environmental impacts and economic feasibility

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  • Zhao, Yuanhao
  • Wang, Changbo
  • Zhang, Lixiao
  • Chang, Yuan
  • Hao, Yan

Abstract

The sustainability of producing biodiesel from waste cooking oil (WCO) needs to be thoroughly examined since it is a promising multiple-advantage solution to strengthening energy security, promoting a circular economy, minimizing waste and environmental pollution, and safeguarding food safety. In this study, we employed life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle cost (LCC) modeling to evaluate the environmental impacts and economic competitiveness of biodiesel production from WCO in China. The endpoint impacts, including the damage to human health, ecosystem quality, and resource availability, and relevant midpoint impacts were examined. The results show that compared to conventional fossil diesel, the overall endpoint environmental impacts of WCO-based biodiesel are lower, particularly in terms of resource depletion. However, for the midpoint impacts, WCO-based biodiesel has higher impacts on climate change, particulate matter generation, photochemical oxidant formation, human toxicity, and water depletion. The majority of the environmental impacts are due to transesterification, except for water depletion, which is mainly derived from the transportation of the biodiesel fuel. The LCC of the biodiesel is estimated to be 6460 RMB per ton, which is about 31% higher than that of fossil diesel (4921 RMB per ton). The LCC of WCO-based biodiesel is mainly determined by the WCO collection, with a share of 83%. The high purchasing price of WCO feedstock and the fluctuations in international oil prices lead to difficulties in biodiesel industry development. Additionally, the multiple consumers of WCO, the low energy conversion rate, and the immature utilization of the by-products also hinder the massive deployment of WCO-based biodiesel in China.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhao, Yuanhao & Wang, Changbo & Zhang, Lixiao & Chang, Yuan & Hao, Yan, 2021. "Converting waste cooking oil to biodiesel in China: Environmental impacts and economic feasibility," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:140:y:2021:i:c:s136403212030945x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2020.110661
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    2. Atelge, M.R., 2022. "Production of biodiesel and hydrogen by using a double-function heterogeneous catalyst derived from spent coffee grounds and its thermodynamic analysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 1-15.
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    4. Mizik, Tamás & Gyarmati, Gábor, 2022. "A biodízel-termelés gazdasági és fenntarthatósági vizsgálata szakirodalom-elemzéssel [Systematic literature review on the economic dimension and sustainability aspects of biodiesel production]," Közgazdasági Szemle (Economic Review - monthly of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences), Közgazdasági Szemle Alapítvány (Economic Review Foundation), vol. 0(5), pages 643-669.
    5. Hosseinzadeh-Bandbafha, Homa & Nizami, Abdul-Sattar & Kalogirou, Soteris A. & Gupta, Vijai Kumar & Park, Young-Kwon & Fallahi, Alireza & Sulaiman, Alawi & Ranjbari, Meisam & Rahnama, Hassan & Aghbashl, 2022. "Environmental life cycle assessment of biodiesel production from waste cooking oil: A systematic review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    6. Zafreen Elahi & Fauzan Mohd Jakarni & Ratnasamy Muniandy & Salihudin Hassim & Mohd Shahrizal Ab Razak & Anwaar Hazoor Ansari & Mohamed Meftah Ben Zair, 2021. "Waste Cooking Oil as a Sustainable Bio Modifier for Asphalt Modification: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-27, October.
    7. Hosseinzadeh-Bandbafha, Homa & Tan, Yie Hua & Kansedo, Jibrail & Mubarak, N.M. & Liew, Rock Keey & Yek, Peter Nai Yuh & Aghbashlo, Mortaza & Ng, Hui Suan & Chong, William Woei Fong & Lam, Su Shiung & , 2023. "Assessing biodiesel production using palm kernel shell-derived sulfonated magnetic biochar from the life cycle assessment perspective," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    8. Grzegorz Borówka & Grzegorz Semerjak & Wojciech Krasodomski & Jan Lubowicz, 2023. "Purified Glycerine from Biodiesel Production as Biomass or Waste-Based Green Raw Material for the Production of Biochemicals," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-12, June.
    9. Oleksandra Shepel & Jonas Matijošius & Alfredas Rimkus & Kamil Duda & Maciej Mikulski, 2021. "Research of Parameters of a Compression Ignition Engine Using Various Fuel Mixtures of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) and Fatty Acid Esters (FAE)," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-18, May.

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