Life cycle assessment for scaled-up production of value-added products from bio-residues

Abstract

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a widely recognized approach used to systematically evaluate the environmental impacts associated with all stages of a product’s life cycle from the extraction of raw materials through manufacturing, distribution, usage, and final disposal. Our recent research initiatives focusing on the application of LCA for the scaled-up valorization of various bio-residues has resulted in several internationally published studies, showcasing the environmental feasibility and optimization potential of converting many bio-residues into value-added products. Bio-residues available in Sri Lanka with substantial annual quantities were selected, including approximately 1.5 – 2.0 million tonnes of rice straw, millions of tonnes of water hyacinth biomass from inland water bodies, over 100,000 tonnes of cane molasses from sugar industries, and around 300,000 tonnes of coir dust from coconut processing, all of which present significant opportunities for conversion into value-added products such as bioethanol, biopolymers, biohydrogen, and adsorbents.