Computer-Aided Environmental Evaluation of Bioethanol Production from Empty Palm Fruit Bunches using Oxalic Acid Pretreatment and Molecular Sieves

Abstract

This work evaluates the environmental performance of the bioethanol production process from the rachis of palm, through the route that includes Saccharification and Simultaneous Cofermentation (SSCF), as well as the dehydration by molecular sieves. The evaluation was carried out using the computer tool based on the waste reduction algorithm (WAR algorithm), quantifying the potential impacts generated (PEI) and classifying them into 8 different categories (four global and four toxicological). From the results obtained, the process studied transforms high power flows of PEI into output products of lower PEI, which is confirmed by the fact that the values of potential impacts generated are negative. Waste streams contribute greatly to the generation of potential impacts and different ways of exploiting these streams were explored. In addition, it was found that this process consumes less energy compared to other processes using the palm spine as a raw material, such as hydrogen extraction.