Skip to main content
Home / Journal of Biobased Materials and Bioenergy, Volume 6, Number 3

Life Cycle Assessment of Ethanol Produced from Wheat Straw

Buy Article:

$107.14 + tax (Refund Policy)

The life cycle of ethanol produced from wheat straw is evaluated to determine if environmentally preferable and economically viable ethanol can be produced in Ontario, Canada. The net energy consumption, greenhouse gas (GHG) emission and production costs are estimated. The estimated net energy consumption, GHG emission and production costs are found to be 15.0 MJ/L, 0.91 kg CO2 e/L and 1.14 $/L, respectively. The net energy consumption, GHG emission and production cost are found to be dependent on ethanol yield, feedstock cost, processing plant capacity and assumptions. The result confirmed that environmental benefit can be gained with present technologies when straw is considered to be carbon neutral, otherwise environmental and economic viability remains doubtful at present, even if highly optimistic assumptions are made for the cost calculation, especially in the case of enzyme. Extended national or international support may enable the prevailing hurdle in this sector to be overcome, and enlarges lignocellulosic ethanol industries in Ontario, Canada.

Keywords: COST; ETHANOL; GHG EMISSIONS; LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT (LCA); NET ENERGY CONSUMPTION; ONTARIO; WHEAT STRAW

Document Type: Research Article

Publication date: 01 June 2012

More about this publication?
  • The goal of the creation of a biobased economy is challenging to agriculture, forestry, academia, government and industry. The extractable resources of the Earth are finite, regardless of the quibble over when they will be depleted. The economic, political and social demands for biobased chemicals, materials and energy are expected to radically transform the materials industries, particularly the plastics industry as well as the biofuel industry. These changes will be based on the principles of sustainability, eco-efficiency, industrial ecology, and green chemistry and engineering. In keeping with the growth of knowledge in this field, there is a strong need for a forum to share original research related to biobased materials and bioenergy. The Journal of Biobased Materials and Bioenergy (JBMB) has been created as an international peer-reviewed periodical to fulfill the need for communication in these research areas. This journal will encompass related research activities in all fields of science, engineering and the life sciences.
  • Editorial Board
  • Information for Authors
  • Subscribe to this Title
  • Ingenta Connect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites

Share Content

  • Access Key
  • Free content
  • Partial Free content
  • New content
  • Open access content
  • Partial Open access content
  • Subscribed content
  • Partial Subscribed content
  • Free trial content