1. LCA studies comparing biodiesel synthesized by conventional and supercritical methanol methods
- Author
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Kiwjaroun, Choosak, Tubtimdee, Chanporn, and Piumsomboon, Pornpote
- Subjects
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BIODIESEL fuels , *MANUFACTURING processes , *ALTERNATIVE fuels , *RENEWABLE energy sources , *ENVIRONMENTAL impact analysis , *METHANOL - Abstract
Abstract: Biodiesel is one of the candidates for alternative fuels since it is renewable, sustainable and produced from domestic or non-food crop resources with less detrimental environmental impact. There are several different approaches to the production process. In this paper a new production method, the supercritical methanol process, was investigated and its environmental performance was compared with the conventional alkali-catalyzed process using LCA as a tool. The supercritical process is technically a simpler production process and offers the advantages of higher yields and the production of less environmentally damaging wastes. However, it still generates a significantly higher environmental load since the methanol recovery unit requires a large amount of energy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
- Published
- 2009
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