IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i22p15937-d1280018.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Alternative Integrated Ethanol, Urea, and Acetic Acid Processing Routes Employing CCU: A Prospective Study through a Life Cycle Perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Denis da Silva Miranda

    (Chemical Engineering Department, Polytechnic School, University of São Paulo (USP), Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 580—Bloco 18, Sao Paulo 05508-000, Brazil)

  • Luise Prado Martins

    (Chemical Engineering Department, Polytechnic School, University of São Paulo (USP), Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 580—Bloco 18, Sao Paulo 05508-000, Brazil)

  • Beatriz Arioli de Sá Teles

    (Chemical Engineering Department, Polytechnic School, University of São Paulo (USP), Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 580—Bloco 18, Sao Paulo 05508-000, Brazil)

  • Isadora L. C. Cunha

    (Chemical Engineering Department, Polytechnic School, University of São Paulo (USP), Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 580—Bloco 18, Sao Paulo 05508-000, Brazil)

  • Natália de Almeida Menezes

    (Chemical Engineering Department, Polytechnic School, University of São Paulo (USP), Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 580—Bloco 18, Sao Paulo 05508-000, Brazil)

  • Hugo Sakamoto

    (School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas 13083-852, Brazil)

  • Luiz Kulay

    (Chemical Engineering Department, Polytechnic School, University of São Paulo (USP), Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 580—Bloco 18, Sao Paulo 05508-000, Brazil)

Abstract

Despite the importance of inputs such as urea, ethanol, and acetic acid for the global production of food, energy, and chemical bases, manufacturing these substances depends on non-renewable resources, generating significant environmental impacts. One alternative to reducing these effects is to integrate production processes. This study compares the cumulative environmental performance of individual production routes for ethanol, urea, and acetic acid with that of an integrated complex designed based on Industrial Ecology precepts. Life Cycle Assessment was used as a metric for the impact categories of Global Warming Potential (GWP) and Primary Energy Demand (PED). The comparison occurred between the reference scenario, which considers individual processes, and six alternative integrated arrangements that vary in the treatment given to a stream concentrated in fuels generated in the Carbon Capture and Usage system that serves the processing of acetic acid. The study showed that process integration is recommended in terms of PED, whose contributions were reduced by 46–63% compared to stand-alone processes. The impacts of GWP are associated with treating the fuel stream. If it is treated as a co-product and environmental loads are allocated in terms of energy content, gains of up to 44% can be expected. On the other hand, if the stream is a waste, the complex’s GWP becomes more aggressive than the baseline scenario by 66%.

Suggested Citation

  • Denis da Silva Miranda & Luise Prado Martins & Beatriz Arioli de Sá Teles & Isadora L. C. Cunha & Natália de Almeida Menezes & Hugo Sakamoto & Luiz Kulay, 2023. "Alternative Integrated Ethanol, Urea, and Acetic Acid Processing Routes Employing CCU: A Prospective Study through a Life Cycle Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-23, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:22:p:15937-:d:1280018
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/22/15937/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/22/15937/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Weslynne S. Ashton, 2009. "The Structure, Function, and Evolution of a Regional Industrial Ecosystem," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 13(2), pages 228-246, April.
    2. Singh, Aditi & Lou, Helen H. & Yaws, Carl L. & Hopper, Jack R. & Pike, Ralph W., 2007. "Environmental impact assessment of different design schemes of an industrial ecosystem," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 51(2), pages 294-313.
    3. Goldemberg, José & Coelho, Suani Teixeira & Guardabassi, Patricia, 2008. "The sustainability of ethanol production from sugarcane," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(6), pages 2086-2097, June.
    4. Wenqing Zhang & Dawei Xi & Yihong Chen & Aobo Chen & Yawen Jiang & Hengjie Liu & Zeyu Zhou & Hui Zhang & Zhi Liu & Ran Long & Yujie Xiong, 2023. "Light-driven flow synthesis of acetic acid from methane with chemical looping," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    5. Yizheng Lyu & Kun Yan & Jinping Tian & Lyujun Chen, 2023. "High cost of waste treatment calls for systematic rethinking: A case study for a chemical industrial park in China," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 27(1), pages 362-375, February.
    6. Hugo Sakamoto & Larissa Thaís Bruschi & Luiz Kulay & Akebo Yamakami, 2023. "Using the Life Cycle Approach for Multiobjective Optimization in the Context of the Green Supply Chain: A Case Study of Brazilian Coffee," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-18, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Spaniol, Matthew J. & Rowland, Nicholas J., 2022. "Business ecosystems and the view from the future: The use of corporate foresight by stakeholders of the Ro-Ro shipping ecosystem in the Baltic Sea Region," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    2. Deborah Bentivoglio & Adele Finco & Mirian Rumenos Piedade Bacchi, 2016. "Interdependencies between Biofuel, Fuel and Food Prices: The Case of the Brazilian Ethanol Market," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(6), pages 1-16, June.
    3. Thapat Silalertruksa & Chanipa Wirodcharuskul & Shabbir H. Gheewala, 2022. "Environmental Sustainability of Waste Circulation Models for Sugarcane Biorefinery System in Thailand," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-21, December.
    4. Brito, Thiago Luis Felipe & Islam, Towhidul & Stettler, Marc & Mouette, Dominique & Meade, Nigel & Moutinho dos Santos, Edmilson, 2019. "Transitions between technological generations of alternative fuel vehicles in Brazil," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    5. Robin Molinier & Pascal da Costa, 2019. "Infrastructure sharing synergies and industrial symbiosis: optimal capacity oversizing and pricing," Post-Print hal-01792032, HAL.
    6. Cremonez, Paulo André & Feroldi, Michael & de Araújo, Amanda Viana & Negreiros Borges, Maykon & Weiser Meier, Thompson & Feiden, Armin & Gustavo Teleken, Joel, 2015. "Biofuels in Brazilian aviation: Current scenario and prospects," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 1063-1072.
    7. Katia A. Figueroa-Rodríguez & Francisco Hernández-Rosas & Benjamín Figueroa-Sandoval & Joel Velasco-Velasco & Noé Aguilar Rivera, 2019. "What Has Been the Focus of Sugarcane Research? A Bibliometric Overview," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-15, September.
    8. Mendiburu, Andrés Z. & Lauermann, Carlos H. & Hayashi, Thamy C. & Mariños, Diego J. & Rodrigues da Costa, Roberto Berlini & Coronado, Christian J.R. & Roberts, Justo J. & de Carvalho, João A., 2022. "Ethanol as a renewable biofuel: Combustion characteristics and application in engines," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).
    9. Rathmann, Régis & Szklo, Alexandre & Schaeffer, Roberto, 2010. "Land use competition for production of food and liquid biofuels: An analysis of the arguments in the current debate," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 14-22.
    10. Souza, Simone Pereira & Nogueira, Luiz Augusto Horta & Martinez, Johan & Cortez, Luis Augusto Barbosa, 2018. "Sugarcane can afford a cleaner energy profile in Latin America & Caribbean," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 164-172.
    11. Patel, Madhumita & Kumar, Amit, 2016. "Production of renewable diesel through the hydroprocessing of lignocellulosic biomass-derived bio-oil: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 1293-1307.
    12. Moraes, Marcia A.F.D. & Nassar, Andre M. & Moura, Paula & Leal, Rodrigo L.V. & Cortez, L.A.B., 2014. "Jet biofuels in Brazil: Sustainability challenges," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 716-726.
    13. Jensen, Paul D., 2016. "The role of geospatial industrial diversity in the facilitation of regional industrial symbiosis," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 92-103.
    14. Takahiro Nakashima & Keiichiro Ueno & Eisuke Fujita & Shoko Ishikawa, 2020. "Evaluation of Polyethylene Mulching and Sugarcane Cultivar on Energy Inputs and Greenhouse Gas Emissions for Ethanol Production in a Temperate Climate," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-17, August.
    15. Marcos Adami & Bernardo Friedrich Theodor Rudorff & Ramon Morais Freitas & Daniel Alves Aguiar & Luciana Miura Sugawara & Marcio Pupin Mello, 2012. "Remote Sensing Time Series to Evaluate Direct Land Use Change of Recent Expanded Sugarcane Crop in Brazil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 4(4), pages 1-12, April.
    16. Raele, Ricardo & Boaventura, João Mauricio Gama & Fischmann, Adalberto Américo & Sarturi, Greici, 2014. "Scenarios for the second generation ethanol in Brazil," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 205-223.
    17. Weslynne S. Ashton & Shauhrat S. Chopra & And Rahul Kashyap, 2017. "Life and Death of Industrial Ecosystems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-15, April.
    18. Crago, Christine L. & Khanna, Madhu & Barton, Jason & Giuliani, Eduardo & Amaral, Weber, 2010. "Competitiveness of Brazilian sugarcane ethanol compared to US corn ethanol," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(11), pages 7404-7415, November.
    19. Machado, Pedro Gerber & Rampazo, Núria A. Miatto & Picoli, Michelle Cristina Araujo & Miranda, Cauã Guilherme & Duft, Daniel Garbellini & de Jesus, Katia Regina Evaristo, 2017. "Analysis of socioeconomic and environmental sensitivity of sugarcane cultivation using a Geographic Information System," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 64-74.
    20. Compeán, Roberto Guerrero & Polenske, Karen R., 2011. "Antagonistic bioenergies: Technological divergence of the ethanol industry in Brazil," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(11), pages 6951-6961.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:22:p:15937-:d:1280018. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.