Economic and environmental evaluation of rice straw processing technologies for energy generation: A case study of Punjab, India. (1st March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Singh, Arashdeep; Basak, Prasenjit
• Is Part Of: Journal of cleaner production. Volume 212(2019)
• Page Start: 343
• Page End: 352
• Publication Date: 2019-03-01
• Subjects: Rice straw -- Renewable -- Environment -- Energy -- Sustainable; Factory and trade waste -- Management -- Periodicals; Manufactures -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Déchets industriels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Usines -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; 628.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.12.033
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-6526

Abstract

Abstract: To find a sustainable approach to surplus rice straw utilization a comparative study of various technologies with simultaneous economic and environmental evaluation is essential. In this article Life cycle assessment (LCA) tool is applied for processing of surplus rice straw considering various advanced techniques: incineration, gasification, anaerobic digestion (AD), fermentation and integrated operation of fermentation and AD. Considering the virtual performance of the existing plants for electricity and ethanol production in India the simultaneous economic and environmental evaluation of each technique is presented. Global warming, acidification, photochemical oxidation and eutrophication categories are considered for environmental impact assessment. The conceptual analysis depicts that gasification has a maximum tendency to reduce the overall environmental impact followed by AD, incineration, integrated operation and fermentation. The integrated operation shows the maximum economic benefit of INR 1525.57/tonne ($ 23/tonne) followed by fermentation, gasification, incineration and AD. The use of surplus rice straw for electricity and ethanol production can reduce the environmental pollution and can contribute to the economic growth of the nation. Graphical abstract: Highlights: Presented incineration, gasification, AD and fermentation for rice straw processing. Proposed economic and environmental evaluation of selected technologies in India. Analysed above technologies using LCA in environmental and economic terms. Proposed sustainable utilization of rice straw for energy generation.