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Life Cycle Assessment of New Oxy-Fuels from Biodiesel-Derived Glycerol

Author

Listed:
  • Francesco Asdrubali

    (Inter-University Research Center on Pollution and Environment "Mauro Felli" (CIRIAF), University of Perugia, Via G. Duranti 63, Perugia 06125, Italy)

  • Franco Cotana

    (Inter-University Research Center on Pollution and Environment "Mauro Felli" (CIRIAF), University of Perugia, Via G. Duranti 63, Perugia 06125, Italy)

  • Federico Rossi

    (Inter-University Research Center on Pollution and Environment "Mauro Felli" (CIRIAF), University of Perugia, Via G. Duranti 63, Perugia 06125, Italy)

  • Andrea Presciutti

    (Inter-University Research Center on Pollution and Environment "Mauro Felli" (CIRIAF), University of Perugia, Via G. Duranti 63, Perugia 06125, Italy)

  • Antonella Rotili

    (Inter-University Research Center on Pollution and Environment "Mauro Felli" (CIRIAF), University of Perugia, Via G. Duranti 63, Perugia 06125, Italy)

  • Claudia Guattari

    (Department of Engineering, University of Roma TRE, Via della Vasca Navale 79, Rome 00146, Italy)

Abstract

Biodiesel is obtained by the process of transesterification of vegetable oils and animal fats and crude glycerol is the main by-product of the biodiesel manufacturing chain. As a result glycerol production has rapidly increased in the last decades. This work focuses on the development and the validation of a process to convert biodiesel-derived glycerol into a fuel for internal combustion engines. In order to obtain a higher conversion efficiency it was necessary to convert crude glycerol to tert -butyl ethers by means of an etherification process that was carried out in the laboratory. Then the obtained glycol-ethers mixture (GEM) was blended with a commercial diesel fuel to improve its thermal efficiency. In this paper a life cycle analysis for these GEM/diesel blends was carried out using a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, in order to evaluate the environmental impacts of these new oxy-fuels; from GEM production to GEM use as an additive for diesel fuel. The LCA results highlight that the use of these new oxy-fuels in diesel engines can lead to an effective reduction in terms of greenhouse gases emissions throughout the entire life cycle.

Suggested Citation

  • Francesco Asdrubali & Franco Cotana & Federico Rossi & Andrea Presciutti & Antonella Rotili & Claudia Guattari, 2015. "Life Cycle Assessment of New Oxy-Fuels from Biodiesel-Derived Glycerol," Energies, MDPI, vol. 8(3), pages 1-16, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:8:y:2015:i:3:p:1628-1643:d:46209
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Carlo Andrea Bollino & Francesco Asdrubali & Paolo Polinori & Simona Bigerna & Silvia Micheli & Claudia Guattari & Antonella Rotili, 2017. "A Note on Medium- and Long-Term Global Energy Prospects and Scenarios," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(5), pages 1-25, May.
    2. Emanuele Bonamente & Flavio Scrucca & Francesco Asdrubali & Franco Cotana & Andrea Presciutti, 2015. "The Water Footprint of the Wine Industry: Implementation of an Assessment Methodology and Application to a Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(9), pages 1-19, September.

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