IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i24p11057-d1545647.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Assessing the Environmental Impacts of the Valorization of Creole-Antillean Avocado via an Extractive-Based Biorefinery in the Montes de María Region

Author

Listed:
  • Stefany A. Valdez-Valdes

    (Nanomaterials and Computer Aided Process Engineering Research Group (NIPAC), Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de Cartagena, Cartagena 130014, Bolivar, Colombia)

  • Lesly P. Tejeda-Benitez

    (Engineering and Circular Economy Group, Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de Cartagena, Cartagena 130014, Bolivar, Colombia)

  • Ángel D. González-Delgado

    (Nanomaterials and Computer Aided Process Engineering Research Group (NIPAC), Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de Cartagena, Cartagena 130014, Bolivar, Colombia)

Abstract

In recent years, the environmental evaluation of biorefineries has become critical for ensuring sustainable practices in bio-based production systems. This study focuses on the application of the Waste Reduction (WAR) Algorithm to assess the environmental impacts of an Extractive-based Creole-Antillean Avocado Biorefinery located in Northern Colombia, aimed at producing bio-oil, chlorophyll, and biopesticide from avocado pulp, peel, and seed, respectively. The environmental impacts were evaluated using the WAR algorithm, which quantifies the potential environmental impacts (PEI) of different process streams. The following four scenarios were developed: (1) considering only waste, (2) including waste and products, (3) including waste and energy sources, and (4) incorporating waste, products, and energy consumption. This study analyzed global impacts focusing on atmospheric and toxicological categories, with a detailed assessment of the most critical scenario. The results indicated that Scenario 4 had the highest PEI, particularly in the atmospheric and toxicological categories, driven by emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), greenhouse gases (GHGs), and the presence of heavy metals. However, the avocado biorefinery process demonstrated a net reduction in overall environmental impacts, with negative PEI generation rates across all scenarios, suggesting that the biorefinery transforms high-impact substances into products with lower global impact potential. Energy consumption emerged as a significant contributor to environmental impacts, particularly in acidification potential (AP) and Atmospheric Toxicity Potential (ATP). Using natural gas as an energy source had a relatively lower environmental impact compared to coal and liquid fuels, emphasizing the need to optimize energy use in biorefinery design to improve environmental performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Stefany A. Valdez-Valdes & Lesly P. Tejeda-Benitez & Ángel D. González-Delgado, 2024. "Assessing the Environmental Impacts of the Valorization of Creole-Antillean Avocado via an Extractive-Based Biorefinery in the Montes de María Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-20, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:24:p:11057-:d:1545647
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/24/11057/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/24/11057/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Edgar Gamero & Sophia Ruppert & Robert Miehe & Alexander Sauer, 2024. "Process Model and Life Cycle Assessment of Biorefinery Concept Using Agricultural and Industrial Residues for Biohydrogen Production," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-18, August.
    2. Celine Marie A. Solis & Jayne Lois G. San Juan & Andres Philip Mayol & Charlle L. Sy & Aristotle T. Ubando & Alvin B. Culaba, 2021. "A Multi-Objective Life Cycle Optimization Model of an Integrated Algal Biorefinery toward a Sustainable Circular Bioeconomy Considering Resource Recirculation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-22, March.
    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. Nimmanterdwong, Prathana & Chalermsinsuwan, Benjapon & Piumsomboon, Pornpote, 2023. "Optimizing utilization pathways for biomass to chemicals and energy by integrating emergy analysis and particle swarm optimization (PSO)," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 1448-1459.
    2. Ana F. Esteves & Eva M. Salgado & José C. M. Pires, 2022. "Recent Advances in Microalgal Biorefineries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-4, August.

    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:16:y:2024:i:24:p:11057-:d:1545647. 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.