IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v89y2016icp401-410.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Carbon footprint of biobutanol by ABE fermentation from corn and sugarcane

Author

Listed:
  • Väisänen, S.
  • Havukainen, J.
  • Uusitalo, V.
  • Havukainen, M.
  • Soukka, R.
  • Luoranen, M.

Abstract

This article focuses on the saving potential of butanol as regards greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It is known that butanol can be used as a biofuel to decrease the greenhouse gas emissions from transport and that butanol may overcome blend wall limitations better than ethanol. However, the GHG emissions of butanol are not well known. The study is based on two case studies: corn butanol production in the USA and sugarcane butanol production in Brazil. Results obtained for GHG emissions show 79–122 gCO2−eq/MJ for corn butanol and –55—18 gCO2−eq/MJ for sugarcane butanol. Our results suggest that in the cases studied, producing butanol from corn (with the current cultivation and process practices) does not lead to GHG emission savings. On the other hand, producing butanol from sugarcane seems to have potential for GHG emission reductions in certain conditions. We highlight the differences between these two production chains and discuss how GHG emissions from these biofuel chains could be reduced.

Suggested Citation

  • Väisänen, S. & Havukainen, J. & Uusitalo, V. & Havukainen, M. & Soukka, R. & Luoranen, M., 2016. "Carbon footprint of biobutanol by ABE fermentation from corn and sugarcane," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 401-410.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:89:y:2016:i:c:p:401-410
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2015.12.016
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148115305218
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2015.12.016?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bjart Holtsmark, 2012. "Harvesting in boreal forests and the biofuel carbon debt," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 112(2), pages 415-428, May.
    2. Uusitalo, V. & Väisänen, S. & Havukainen, J. & Havukainen, M. & Soukka, R. & Luoranen, M., 2014. "Carbon footprint of renewable diesel from palm oil, jatropha oil and rapeseed oil," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 103-113.
    3. Balat, Mustafa & Balat, Havva, 2009. "Recent trends in global production and utilization of bio-ethanol fuel," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(11), pages 2273-2282, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Souza, Simone Pereira & Nogueira, Luiz Augusto Horta & Martinez, Johan & Cortez, Luis Augusto Barbosa, 2018. "Sugarcane can afford a cleaner energy profile in Latin America & Caribbean," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 164-172.
    2. Kargbo, Hannah & Harris, Jonathan Stuart & Phan, Anh N., 2021. "“Drop-in” fuel production from biomass: Critical review on techno-economic feasibility and sustainability," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    3. Taitiya Kenneth Yuguda & Yi Li & Bobby Shekarau Luka & Goziya William Dzarma, 2020. "Incorporating Reservoir Greenhouse Gas Emissions into Carbon Footprint of Sugar Produced from Irrigated Sugarcane in Northeastern Nigeria," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-24, December.
    4. Furtado Júnior, Juarez Corrêa & Palacio, José Carlos Escobar & Leme, Rafael Coradi & Lora, Electo Eduardo Silva & da Costa, José Eduardo Loureiro & Reyes, Arnaldo Martín Martínez & del Olmo, Oscar Alm, 2020. "Biorefineries productive alternatives optimization in the brazilian sugar and alcohol industry," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 259(C).
    5. Collotta, M. & Champagne, P. & Tomasoni, G. & Alberti, M. & Busi, L. & Mabee, W., 2019. "Critical indicators of sustainability for biofuels: An analysis through a life cycle sustainabilty assessment perspective," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    6. Ko, Chun-Han & Chaiprapat, Sumate & Kim, Lee-Hyung & Hadi, Pejman & Hsu, Shu-Chien & Leu, Shao-Yuan, 2017. "Carbon sequestration potential via energy harvesting from agricultural biomass residues in Mekong River basin, Southeast Asia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 68(P2), pages 1051-1062.
    7. Prasad, Salvin S. & Singh, Anirudh & Prasad, Surendra, 2020. "Degummed Pongamia oil – Ethanol microemulsions as novel alternative CI engine fuels for remote Small Island Developing States: Preparation, characterization, engine performance and emissions character," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 401-411.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Filimonau, Viachaslau & Högström, Michaela, 2017. "The attitudes of UK tourists to the use of biofuels in civil aviation: An exploratory study," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 84-94.
    2. Yasuda, Masahide & Matsumoto, Tomoko & Yamashita, Toshiaki, 2018. "Sacrificial hydrogen production over TiO2-based photocatalysts: Polyols, carboxylic acids, and saccharides," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 81(P2), pages 1627-1635.
    3. Bharathiraja, B. & Jayamuthunagai, J. & Sudharsanaa, T. & Bharghavi, A. & Praveenkumar, R. & Chakravarthy, M. & Yuvaraj, D., 2017. "Biobutanol – An impending biofuel for future: A review on upstream and downstream processing tecniques," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 68(P1), pages 788-807.
    4. Zhang, Chen & Sun, Zongxuan, 2017. "Trajectory-based combustion control for renewable fuels in free piston engines," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 72-83.
    5. Andrea Patané & Giorgio Jansen & Piero Conca & Giovanni Carapezza & Jole Costanza & Giuseppe Nicosia, 2019. "Multi-objective optimization of genome-scale metabolic models: the case of ethanol production," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 276(1), pages 211-227, May.
    6. M'Arimi, M.M. & Mecha, C.A. & Kiprop, A.K. & Ramkat, R., 2020. "Recent trends in applications of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) in bioenergy production: Review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    7. Kallio, A.M.I. & Salminen, O. & Sievänen, R., 2013. "Sequester or substitute—Consequences of increased production of wood based energy on the carbon balance in Finland," Journal of Forest Economics, Elsevier, vol. 19(4), pages 402-415.
    8. Ekholm, Tommi & Karvosenoja, Niko & Tissari, Jarkko & Sokka, Laura & Kupiainen, Kaarle & Sippula, Olli & Savolahti, Mikko & Jokiniemi, Jorma & Savolainen, Ilkka, 2014. "A multi-criteria analysis of climate, health and acidification impacts due to greenhouse gases and air pollution—The case of household-level heating technologies," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 499-509.
    9. Sánchez, S. & Lozano, L.J. & Godínez, C. & Juan, D. & Pérez, A. & Hernández, F.J., 2010. "Carob pod as a feedstock for the production of bioethanol in Mediterranean areas," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(11), pages 3417-3424, November.
    10. Jin, Wenxiang & Chen, Ling & Hu, Meng & Sun, Dan & Li, Ao & Li, Ying & Hu, Zhen & Zhou, Shiguang & Tu, Yuanyuan & Xia, Tao & Wang, Yanting & Xie, Guosheng & Li, Yanbin & Bai, Baowei & Peng, Liangcai, 2016. "Tween-80 is effective for enhancing steam-exploded biomass enzymatic saccharification and ethanol production by specifically lessening cellulase absorption with lignin in common reed," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 82-90.
    11. Diep, Nhu Quynh & Fujimoto, Shinji & Minowa, Tomoaki & Sakanishi, Kinya & Nakagoshi, Nobukazu, 2012. "Estimation of the potential of rice straw for ethanol production and the optimum facility size for different regions in Vietnam," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 205-211.
    12. Phanankosi Moyo & Mahluli Moyo & Donatus Dube & Oswell Rusinga, 2013. "Biofuel Policy as a Key Driver for Sustainable Development in the Biofuel Sector: The Missing Ingredient in Zimbabwe’s Biofuel Pursuit," Modern Applied Science, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 8(1), pages 1-36, February.
    13. Kallio, A.M.I. & Salminen, O. & Sievänen, R., 2016. "Forests in the Finnish low carbon scenarios," Journal of Forest Economics, Elsevier, vol. 23(C), pages 45-62.
    14. Tan, Raymond R. & Aviso, Kathleen B. & Barilea, Ivan U. & Culaba, Alvin B. & Cruz, Jose B., 2012. "A fuzzy multi-regional input–output optimization model for biomass production and trade under resource and footprint constraints," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 90(1), pages 154-160.
    15. Yao, Yung-Chen & Tsai, Jiun-Horng & Wang, I-Ting, 2013. "Emissions of gaseous pollutant from motorcycle powered by ethanol–gasoline blend," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 93-100.
    16. Arkadiusz Piwowar & Maciej Dzikuć, 2019. "Development of Renewable Energy Sources in the Context of Threats Resulting from Low-Altitude Emissions in Rural Areas in Poland: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-15, September.
    17. Lenka Rumánková & Luboš Smutka, 2013. "Global sugar market - the analysis of factors influencing supply and demand," Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, Mendel University Press, vol. 61(2), pages 463-471.
    18. Starfelt, Fredrik & Daianova, Lilia & Yan, Jinyue & Thorin, Eva & Dotzauer, Erik, 2012. "The impact of lignocellulosic ethanol yields in polygeneration with district heating – A case study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 791-799.
    19. Akroum-Amrouche, Dahbia & Abdi, Nadia & Lounici, Hakim & Mameri, Nabil, 2011. "Effect of physico-chemical parameters on biohydrogen production and growth characteristics by batch culture of Rhodobacter sphaeroides CIP 60.6," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(6), pages 2130-2135, June.
    20. Vallinayagam, R. & Vedharaj, S. & Yang, W.M. & Roberts, W.L. & Dibble, R.W., 2015. "Feasibility of using less viscous and lower cetane (LVLC) fuels in a diesel engine: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 1166-1190.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:89:y:2016:i:c:p:401-410. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/renewable-energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.