IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/rensus/v140y2021ics136403212030945x.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Converting waste cooking oil to biodiesel in China: Environmental impacts and economic feasibility

Author

Listed:
  • Zhao, Yuanhao
  • Wang, Changbo
  • Zhang, Lixiao
  • Chang, Yuan
  • Hao, Yan

Abstract

The sustainability of producing biodiesel from waste cooking oil (WCO) needs to be thoroughly examined since it is a promising multiple-advantage solution to strengthening energy security, promoting a circular economy, minimizing waste and environmental pollution, and safeguarding food safety. In this study, we employed life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle cost (LCC) modeling to evaluate the environmental impacts and economic competitiveness of biodiesel production from WCO in China. The endpoint impacts, including the damage to human health, ecosystem quality, and resource availability, and relevant midpoint impacts were examined. The results show that compared to conventional fossil diesel, the overall endpoint environmental impacts of WCO-based biodiesel are lower, particularly in terms of resource depletion. However, for the midpoint impacts, WCO-based biodiesel has higher impacts on climate change, particulate matter generation, photochemical oxidant formation, human toxicity, and water depletion. The majority of the environmental impacts are due to transesterification, except for water depletion, which is mainly derived from the transportation of the biodiesel fuel. The LCC of the biodiesel is estimated to be 6460 RMB per ton, which is about 31% higher than that of fossil diesel (4921 RMB per ton). The LCC of WCO-based biodiesel is mainly determined by the WCO collection, with a share of 83%. The high purchasing price of WCO feedstock and the fluctuations in international oil prices lead to difficulties in biodiesel industry development. Additionally, the multiple consumers of WCO, the low energy conversion rate, and the immature utilization of the by-products also hinder the massive deployment of WCO-based biodiesel in China.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhao, Yuanhao & Wang, Changbo & Zhang, Lixiao & Chang, Yuan & Hao, Yan, 2021. "Converting waste cooking oil to biodiesel in China: Environmental impacts and economic feasibility," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:140:y:2021:i:c:s136403212030945x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2020.110661
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S136403212030945X
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.rser.2020.110661?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. Tsoutsos, T.D. & Tournaki, S. & Paraíba, O. & Kaminaris, S.D., 2016. "The Used Cooking Oil-to-biodiesel chain in Europe assessment of best practices and environmental performance," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 74-83.
    2. Pang, Mingyue & Zhang, Lixiao & Ulgiati, Sergio & Wang, Changbo, 2015. "Ecological impacts of small hydropower in China: Insights from an emergy analysis of a case plant," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 112-122.
    3. Liu, Huacai & Huang, Yanqin & Yuan, Hongyou & Yin, Xiuli & Wu, Chuangzhi, 2018. "Life cycle assessment of biofuels in China: Status and challenges," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 301-322.
    4. Ou, Xunmin & Zhang, Xiliang & Chang, Shiyan & Guo, Qingfang, 2009. "Energy consumption and GHG emissions of six biofuel pathways by LCA in (the) People's Republic of China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(Supplemen), pages 197-208, November.
    5. Adams, P.W.R. & Shirley, J.E.J. & McManus, M.C., 2015. "Comparative cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment of wood pellet production with torrefaction," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 367-380.
    6. Kagawa, Shigemi & Takezono, Kanako & Suh, Sangwon & Kudoh, Yuki, 2013. "Production possibility frontier analysis of biodiesel from waste cooking oil," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 362-368.
    7. Zhang, Huiming & Li, Lianshui & Zhou, Peng & Hou, Jianmin & Qiu, Yueming, 2014. "Subsidy modes, waste cooking oil and biofuel: Policy effectiveness and sustainable supply chains in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 270-274.
    8. Zhang, Huiming & Wang, Qunwei & Mortimer, Simon R., 2012. "Waste cooking oil as an energy resource: Review of Chinese policies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(7), pages 5225-5231.
    9. Wang, Changbo & Chang, Yuan & Zhang, Lixiao & Pang, Mingyue & Hao, Yan, 2017. "A life-cycle comparison of the energy, environmental and economic impacts of coal versus wood pellets for generating heat in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 374-384.
    10. Talebian-Kiakalaieh, Amin & Amin, Nor Aishah Saidina & Mazaheri, Hossein, 2013. "A review on novel processes of biodiesel production from waste cooking oil," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 683-710.
    11. Hou, Jian & Zhang, Peidong & Yuan, Xianzheng & Zheng, Yonghong, 2011. "Life cycle assessment of biodiesel from soybean, jatropha and microalgae in China conditions," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(9), pages 5081-5091.
    12. Taylor, Benjamin & Xiao, Ning & Sikorski, Janusz & Yong, Minloon & Harris, Tom & Helme, Tim & Smallbone, Andrew & Bhave, Amit & Kraft, Markus, 2013. "Techno-economic assessment of carbon-negative algal biodiesel for transport solutions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 262-274.
    13. Xu, Jie & Yuan, Zhenhong & Chang, Shiyan, 2018. "Long-term cost trajectories for biofuels in China projected to 2050," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 452-465.
    14. Chen, G.Q. & Yang, Q. & Zhao, Y.H., 2011. "Renewability of wind power in China: A case study of nonrenewable energy cost and greenhouse gas emission by a plant in Guangxi," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(5), pages 2322-2329, June.
    15. Qiu, Huanguang & Sun, Laixiang & Huang, Jikun & Rozelle, Scott, 2012. "Liquid biofuels in China: Current status, government policies, and future opportunities and challenges," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(5), pages 3095-3104.
    16. Talens Peiró, L. & Lombardi, L. & Villalba Méndez, G. & Gabarrell i Durany, X., 2010. "Life cycle assessment (LCA) and exergetic life cycle assessment (ELCA) of the production of biodiesel from used cooking oil (UCO)," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(2), pages 889-893.
    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. Abu-Ghazala, Abdelmoniem H. & Abdelhady, Hosam H. & Mazhar, Amina A. & El-Deab, Mohamed S., 2022. "Valorization of hazard waste: Efficient utilization of white brick waste powder in the catalytic production of biodiesel from waste cooking oil via RSM optimization process," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 1120-1133.
    2. Atelge, M.R., 2022. "Production of biodiesel and hydrogen by using a double-function heterogeneous catalyst derived from spent coffee grounds and its thermodynamic analysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 1-15.
    3. Shu Shi & Zedong Teng & Jianwei Liu & Tinggang Li, 2022. "Conversion of Waste Cooking Oil to Rhamnolipid by a Newly Oleophylic Pseudomonas aeruginosa WO2," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-14, February.
    4. Mizik, Tamás & Gyarmati, Gábor, 2022. "A biodízel-termelés gazdasági és fenntarthatósági vizsgálata szakirodalom-elemzéssel [Systematic literature review on the economic dimension and sustainability aspects of biodiesel production]," Közgazdasági Szemle (Economic Review - monthly of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences), Közgazdasági Szemle Alapítvány (Economic Review Foundation), vol. 0(5), pages 643-669.
    5. Hosseinzadeh-Bandbafha, Homa & Nizami, Abdul-Sattar & Kalogirou, Soteris A. & Gupta, Vijai Kumar & Park, Young-Kwon & Fallahi, Alireza & Sulaiman, Alawi & Ranjbari, Meisam & Rahnama, Hassan & Aghbashl, 2022. "Environmental life cycle assessment of biodiesel production from waste cooking oil: A systematic review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    6. Zafreen Elahi & Fauzan Mohd Jakarni & Ratnasamy Muniandy & Salihudin Hassim & Mohd Shahrizal Ab Razak & Anwaar Hazoor Ansari & Mohamed Meftah Ben Zair, 2021. "Waste Cooking Oil as a Sustainable Bio Modifier for Asphalt Modification: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-27, October.
    7. Hosseinzadeh-Bandbafha, Homa & Tan, Yie Hua & Kansedo, Jibrail & Mubarak, N.M. & Liew, Rock Keey & Yek, Peter Nai Yuh & Aghbashlo, Mortaza & Ng, Hui Suan & Chong, William Woei Fong & Lam, Su Shiung & , 2023. "Assessing biodiesel production using palm kernel shell-derived sulfonated magnetic biochar from the life cycle assessment perspective," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    8. Grzegorz Borówka & Grzegorz Semerjak & Wojciech Krasodomski & Jan Lubowicz, 2023. "Purified Glycerine from Biodiesel Production as Biomass or Waste-Based Green Raw Material for the Production of Biochemicals," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-12, June.
    9. Oleksandra Shepel & Jonas Matijošius & Alfredas Rimkus & Kamil Duda & Maciej Mikulski, 2021. "Research of Parameters of a Compression Ignition Engine Using Various Fuel Mixtures of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) and Fatty Acid Esters (FAE)," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-18, May.

    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. Wang, Changbo & Zhang, Lixiao & Chang, Yuan & Pang, Mingyue, 2021. "Energy return on investment (EROI) of biomass conversion systems in China: Meta-analysis focused on system boundary unification," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    2. Rajaeifar, Mohammad Ali & Abdi, Reza & Tabatabaei, Meisam, 2017. "Expanded polystyrene waste application for improving biodiesel environmental performance parameters from life cycle assessment point of view," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 278-298.
    3. Liu, Huacai & Huang, Yanqin & Yuan, Hongyou & Yin, Xiuli & Wu, Chuangzhi, 2018. "Life cycle assessment of biofuels in China: Status and challenges," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 301-322.
    4. Hosseinzadeh-Bandbafha, Homa & Nizami, Abdul-Sattar & Kalogirou, Soteris A. & Gupta, Vijai Kumar & Park, Young-Kwon & Fallahi, Alireza & Sulaiman, Alawi & Ranjbari, Meisam & Rahnama, Hassan & Aghbashl, 2022. "Environmental life cycle assessment of biodiesel production from waste cooking oil: A systematic review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    5. Rajaeifar, Mohammad Ali & Akram, Asadolah & Ghobadian, Barat & Rafiee, Shahin & Heijungs, Reinout & Tabatabaei, Meisam, 2016. "Environmental impact assessment of olive pomace oil biodiesel production and consumption: A comparative lifecycle assessment," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 87-102.
    6. Zhang, Huiming & Aytun Ozturk, U. & Wang, Qunwei & Zhao, Zengyao, 2014. "Biodiesel produced by waste cooking oil: Review of recycling modes in China, the US and Japan," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 677-685.
    7. Iriarte, Alfredo & Rieradevall, Joan & Gabarrell, Xavier, 2012. "Transition towards a more environmentally sustainable biodiesel in South America: The case of Chile," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 91(1), pages 263-273.
    8. Zhang, Xiaolei & Yan, Song & Tyagi, Rajeshwar D. & Surampalli, RaoY. & Valéro, Jose R., 2014. "Wastewater sludge as raw material for microbial oils production," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 192-201.
    9. Xunmin Ou & Xiaoyu Yan & Xu Zhang & Xiliang Zhang, 2013. "Life-Cycle Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Analysis for Bio-Liquid Jet Fuel from Open Pond-Based Micro-Algae under China Conditions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 6(9), pages 1-27, September.
    10. Seber, Gonca & Escobar, Neus & Valin, Hugo & Malina, Robert, 2022. "Uncertainty in life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of sustainable aviation fuels from vegetable oils," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    11. Thomassen, Gwenny & Van Dael, Miet & Lemmens, Bert & Van Passel, Steven, 2017. "A review of the sustainability of algal-based biorefineries: Towards an integrated assessment framework," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 68(P2), pages 876-887.
    12. Milazzo, M.F. & Spina, F. & Primerano, P. & Bart, J.C.J., 2013. "Soy biodiesel pathways: Global prospects," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 579-624.
    13. Zhang, Huiming & Zheng, Yu & Cao, Jie & Qiu, Yueming, 2017. "Has government intervention effectively encouraged the use of waste cooking oil as an energy source? Comparison of two Chinese biofuel companies," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 140(P1), pages 708-715.
    14. Gasparatos, A. & von Maltitz, G.P. & Johnson, F.X. & Lee, L. & Mathai, M. & Puppim de Oliveira, J.A. & Willis, K.J., 2015. "Biofuels in sub-Sahara Africa: Drivers, impacts and priority policy areas," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 879-901.
    15. Tsoutsos, T.D. & Tournaki, S. & Paraíba, O. & Kaminaris, S.D., 2016. "The Used Cooking Oil-to-biodiesel chain in Europe assessment of best practices and environmental performance," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 74-83.
    16. Di Fraia, S. & Massarotti, N. & Vanoli, L. & Costa, M., 2016. "Thermo-economic analysis of a novel cogeneration system for sewage sludge treatment," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 115(P3), pages 1560-1571.
    17. Kang, Yating & Yang, Qing & Bartocci, Pietro & Wei, Hongjian & Liu, Sylvia Shuhan & Wu, Zhujuan & Zhou, Hewen & Yang, Haiping & Fantozzi, Francesco & Chen, Hanping, 2020. "Bioenergy in China: Evaluation of domestic biomass resources and the associated greenhouse gas mitigation potentials," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    18. Zhang, Huiming & Xu, Zhidong & Zhou, Dequn & Cao, Jie, 2017. "Waste cooking oil-to-energy under incomplete information: Identifying policy options through an evolutionary game," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(P1), pages 547-555.
    19. Piyarath Saosee & Boonrod Sajjakulnukit & Shabbir H. Gheewala, 2020. "Life Cycle Assessment of Wood Pellet Production in Thailand," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-23, August.
    20. Wang, Changbo & Malik, Arunima & Wang, Yafei & Chang, Yuan & Pang, Mingyue & Zhou, Dequn, 2020. "Understanding the resource-use and environmental impacts of bioethanol production in China based on a MRIO-based hybrid LCA model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).

    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:rensus:v:140:y:2021:i:c:s136403212030945x. 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.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/600126/description#description .

    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.