Department of Engineering and Chemical Sciences, Karlstad University, 65188 Karlstad, Sweden.
Department of Engineering and Chemical Sciences, Karlstad University, 65188 Karlstad, Sweden.
Bioresour Technol. 2023 Nov;387:129642. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129642. Epub 2023 Aug 7.
This study aims to scrutinize and compare the environmental impacts of biobased 2,3-butanediol (BDO) and its fossil-based counterpart. BDO is a fundamental chemical in various industries, traditionally derived from petroleum sources. Wood residues, largely available in Nordic countries, are sustainable alternative feedstocks, offering potential environmental benefits. Material flow analysis followed by consequential life cycle assessment (LCA) were employed to quantify the potential environmental burdens associated with various biorefinery stages of wood-based BDO production. The findings indicated that refraining from wood combustion and, instead, utilizing wood in a biorefinery to produce BDO as the main product, with methane and fertilizer as coproducts from the waste residue, resulted in 125%, 52%, and 90% better environmental performance regarding human health, climate change, and resource scarcity, respectively, compared to fossil-based BDO production. The results offer valuable insights for technology developers and policymakers, empowering them to make informed decisions and support sustainable practices.
本研究旨在深入探讨和比较生物基 2,3-丁二醇（BDO）及其化石基对应物的环境影响。BDO 是各种工业中的基础化学品，传统上来源于石油资源。木材残留物在北欧国家大量存在，是可持续的替代原料，具有潜在的环境效益。本研究采用物质流分析，随后进行基于影响的生命周期评估（LCA），以量化与木材基 BDO 生产的各个生物炼制阶段相关的潜在环境负担。研究结果表明，避免木材燃烧，而是在生物炼制厂中利用木材生产 BDO 作为主要产品，将废物残渣中的甲烷和肥料作为副产物，与化石基 BDO 生产相比，在人体健康、气候变化和资源稀缺性方面分别有 125%、52%和 90%的显著改善。这些结果为技术开发者和政策制定者提供了有价值的见解，使他们能够做出明智的决策并支持可持续的实践。
