A Life cycle assessment for the quantification of carbon footprint in nipa-based bioethanol / Angel Kaye R. Albano, Florence A. Ortal

UTHESIS (Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering)

Bibliography: leaves 44-47

Rising global temperatures have been partly attributed to increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from various industrial processes. Among these, the production of bioethanol, particularly from nipa, is an emerging process. Despite the growing interest in this biofuel, there has been a lack of research quantifying the emissions associated with its production. This study conducted a life cycle assessment focusing on the stages from fermentation to utilization of nipa-based bioethanol. The assessment used a reference flow involving the production of 1 liter of bioethanol using 800-L wood distiller. In the utilization phase, emissions from a modified Honda XR 125 were tested using Qrotech QRO 401 emission tester with a total of 1 liter of bioethanol blend. The findings revealed that the distillation stage contributes most significantly to the overall carbon footprint. Although emissions from wood burning and fermentation were quantified, they were excluded from the global warming potential (GWP) assessment due to their carbon-neutral status. Compared to bioethanol derived from corn, sugarcane, and cassava, nipa-based bioethanol was found to emit the least GWP with the value 0.2473 kg CO2. The study recommends further life cycle assessments of other distillers used for nipa and suggests including additional gases, such as methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (NOx) in the assessments to provide a more comprehensive environmental impact evaluation.