A comparative assessment on life cycle analysis of the biodiesel fuels produced from soybean, Jatropha, Calophyllum inophyllum, and microalgae

ABSTRACT

There is a continuous depletion of fossil resources recorded in 20^th century for the production of diesel that resulted in significant climatic change. The current study focuses on the challenges faced due to energy crisis and climate change followed by biodiesel production from various feedstock sources such as Soybean, Jatropha, Calophyllum inophyllum, and Microalgae. The pivotal aim of the study is to analyze the life cycle balance of biodiesel produced from three generation feedstocks. These sources were selected based on energy balance and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, specifically on the aspect of Well-to-Pump module. The results infer that GHG emission was stringent in the production of soybean biodiesel i.e., 32.53 gCO₂Eq/MJ whereas other sustainable measures such as net energy value, net renewable energy value, and energy ratio were low in the life cycle of microalgae-based biodiesel. This phenomenon indicates its efficiency in obtaining the maximal energy output. On the contrary, about 49.44 gCO₂Eq/MJ was produced during all the stages of biodiesel production from microalgae. In terms of sensitivity, the output dependency over input value was also estimated since it showcases the significant influence of cultivation, transportation, oil extraction and biodiesel production upon biodiesel Life Cycle Analysis (LCA). After taking the entire LCA values, sensitivity analyses of selected feedstocks and the importance of food crops into account, the biodiesels produced from Jatropha and Calophyllum inophyllum feedstocks were found to be viable and possess the ability to overcome GHG emission challenges without compromising the energy balance.

KEYWORDS:

• Life cycle analysis
• well to pump
• GHG emissions
• energy ratio
• sensitivity analysis

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sudhakar Uppalapati

Sudhakar Uppalapati is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering in Marri Laxman Reddy Institute of Technology and Management, Hyderabad. He completed graduation from JNTUH and post-graduation from the University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES), Dehradun. He has 12 years of teaching experience and published articles in various national and international journals.

Stanly Premila Jani

Stanly Premila Jani is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering in Marri Laxman Reddy Institute of Technology and Management, Hyderabad. He has about nine years of experience in teaching. He is an under graduate and post graduate from Sethu Institute of Technology, Tamilnadu and did his PhD from Anna University. He has published more than 30 research articles in various national and international journals as well as conference. He holds two patents. He has a research interest in PMCs and machining performance study. He has a reviewer of several scientific journal.

Mahaboob Basha Adam Khan

Mahaboob Basha Adam Khan is working as an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education, Tamilnadu, India. He started to serve as an Educator cum Researcher from the year 2006. He did his Post Doctoral research on Sustainable manufacturing for advanced materials from the University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein Campus, Johannesburg, South Africa. He got Doctoral Degree from National Institute of Technology, Trichy, India. He received his UG and PG Degrees from Anna University Chennai, India. His thrust research areas are Additive Manufacturing, Advanced Materials, Tribology, Corrosion and Surface Science. Lead Guest Editor for a Special Issue in the Journal of Advances in Materials Science and Engineering, Lead Editor for a Book on “Innovations in Additive Manufacturing, Guest Editor in Materials Today Proceeding, Guest Editor in Frontiers in Materials these are all Recent achievements in his research career.

Manjunathan Alagarsamy

Manjunathan Alagarsamy received the Bachelor degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Dr.Navalar Nedunchezhiyan College of Engineering in 2010. He received the Master degree in Embedded System Technologies from Raja College of Engineering and Technology, Madurai, Tamilnadu, India in 2013.He is currently working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering at K.Ramakrishnan College of Technology, Trichy, India. His area of interests includes Embedded Systems, Image processing, Sensors and Interfacing networks and Internet of Things. He has published 13 articles in peer reviewed International journals and presented 6 papers in International conferences.

Mathankumar Manoharan

Mathankumar Manoharan is working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Kumaraguru College Technology, Coimbatore, India. He is graduated in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and specialized in the field of Embedded Systems. His area of interests includes Energy efficient sensor networks, Internet of Things, Electric Vehicle and Innovative teaching methodologies for Engineering. He has published 4 patents, 50 articles in peer reviewed international journals, conferences and co-authored a book chapter.

Hitesh Panchal

Dr. Hitesh Panchal is currently working as Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering Department at Government Engineering College patan, Gujarat, India. He has published more than 120 Research papers, 10 book chapters and filed 21 patents. He has 14 years of Teaching and Research Experience in Solar Thermal and Solar Photovoltaic applications for Sustainable Development. His areas of interests include solar Desalination, Solar PV/T hybrid technologies, Automobile emission and control etc.

Kishor Kumar Sadasivuni

Dr. Kishor Kumar sadasivuni is working in Center for Advanced Materials, Qatar University. He has published 82 Journal papers, 12 book chapters, 7 books edited and 3 patents filed. He has about 10 years of experience in synthesis & characterization of nanoparticles and also in manufacturing nanocomposites for industrial applications. His areas of interest include different types of nanocomposite fabrication, modifications, designs and their applications especially sensors, piezoelectrics, actuators, energy storage, Dielectrics, 3D-Printing and flexible electronics