Energy generation from palm oil mill effluent: A life cycle assessment of two biogas technologies

TY - JOUR

T1 - Energy generation from palm oil mill effluent

T2 - A life cycle assessment of two biogas technologies

AU - Sharvini, Siva Raman

AU - Noor, Zainura Zainon

AU - Chong, Chun Shiong

AU - Stringer, Lindsay C.

AU - Glew, David

N1 - Funding Information: This work was financed by the Spanish Society of Cardiology through a grant for Proyectos de Investigación Básica en Cardiología, 2010; the Programa I3 de Intensificación Investigadora 2010 and 2012 from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III and the Generalitat Valenciana; the Fundación para la Investigación del Hospital General Universitario de Valencia through the Becas de Investigación Intramural, 2008 and 2010; the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through projects SAF 2009-07599 and CSD 2007-00020; SAF2012-37693 from MINECO (Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad); and S2010/BMD-2361 from the Community of Madrid.

PY - 2020/1/15

Y1 - 2020/1/15

N2 - This study conducted a life cycle assessment of palm oil mill effluent (POME) based energy generation using the CML 2001 method and Gabi 8 software, focusing on two POME treatment technologies: the covered lagoon bio-digester (CLB) and the continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR). The analysis determined the respective environmental impacts of the technologies, both of which are currently in use in Malaysia. The global warming potential (GWP) and acidification potential (AP) for CSTR were −4.48 kg CO2 eq/kWh and −2.21 kg SO2 eq/kWh respectively, while for CLB the values were −4.09 kg CO2 eq/kWh and −0.15 kg SO2 eq/kWh. Both technologies produced a negative result, which equates to a net environmental benefit. However, both systems had a negative impact in terms of eutrophication potential (EP). The CSTR nevertheless achieved a better EP result of 0.048 kg PO43− eq/kWh than the CLB with 0.054 kg PO43− eq/kWh. A sensitivity analysis was carried out in order to find a way to overcome the impacts of EP. The findings provide useful data to guide decision-makers in the sustainable management of POME, in Malaysia and globally where similar technologies are in use.

AB - This study conducted a life cycle assessment of palm oil mill effluent (POME) based energy generation using the CML 2001 method and Gabi 8 software, focusing on two POME treatment technologies: the covered lagoon bio-digester (CLB) and the continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR). The analysis determined the respective environmental impacts of the technologies, both of which are currently in use in Malaysia. The global warming potential (GWP) and acidification potential (AP) for CSTR were −4.48 kg CO2 eq/kWh and −2.21 kg SO2 eq/kWh respectively, while for CLB the values were −4.09 kg CO2 eq/kWh and −0.15 kg SO2 eq/kWh. Both technologies produced a negative result, which equates to a net environmental benefit. However, both systems had a negative impact in terms of eutrophication potential (EP). The CSTR nevertheless achieved a better EP result of 0.048 kg PO43− eq/kWh than the CLB with 0.054 kg PO43− eq/kWh. A sensitivity analysis was carried out in order to find a way to overcome the impacts of EP. The findings provide useful data to guide decision-makers in the sustainable management of POME, in Malaysia and globally where similar technologies are in use.

KW - Acidification potential

KW - Anaerobic digester

KW - Eutrophication potential

KW - Global warming potential

KW - POME

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85075451330&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.energy.2019.116513

DO - 10.1016/j.energy.2019.116513

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85075451330

SN - 0360-5442

VL - 191

JO - Energy

JF - Energy

M1 - 116513

ER -