Estimation of carbon dioxide (CO₂) reduction by utilization of algal biomass bioplastic in Malaysia using carbon emission pinch analysis (CEPA)

Figures & data

Figure 1. Process flow of methodology

Figure 2. Projection to 2050 of plastic production

Table 1. Global greenhouse gas emission in 2016 and 2050

Year	Plastic production (Mt) [15]		Greenhouse/CO2 emission (Mt)	Percentage of total emission
2016	335	333	400	1%
		(conventional plastic)
		2
		(bioplastic)
2050	Prediction from pinch analysis		1200	3%

Figure 3. Carbon emission pinch analysis (CEPA) by percentage reduction

Table 2. Carbon reduction and the expected bioplastic production demand

Percentage reduction	100%	75%	50%	25%
CO2 emission (Mt)	400	600	800	1000
Fossil fuel–based plastic (Mt)	334	500	656	834
Bioplastic (Mt)	667	501	345	167

Figure 4. Carbon emission pinch analysis (CEPA) for (a) 100%; (b) 75%; (c) 50%; (d) 25% CO₂ emission reduction

Table 3. Carbon reduction and the expected bioplastic production demand from macroalgae

Percentage reduction	100%	75%	50%	25%
CO2 emission (Mt)	400	600	800	1000
Fossil fuel–based (Mt)	333.33	500	666.67	833.33
Bioplastic
Algae biomass (Mt)	534.13	400.80	267.47	134.13
Other biomass (Mt) (20% of bioplastic)	133.53	100.2	66.87	33.53
Annual phenol demand, P (Mt/y)	15.71	11.79	7.87	3.95
Annual demand quantity for algal biomass, QM (Mt/y)	21.16	15.88	10.59	5.31

Figure 5. Potential area for large-scale macroalgae (seaweed) cultivation in Sabah, Malaysia

Table 4. Total area for large-scale macroalgae (seaweed) cultivation in Sabah

Location [33]	Area	Potential area (km^2)	Potential area (ha)
Kudat	1	820	82,000
Pulau Banggi	2	610	61,000
Lahad datu	3	430	43,000
Kunak	4	180	18,000
Tun Sakaran	5	78	7800
Selakan Island	5 & 6
Semporna	6 & 7	575	57,500
Bum bum Island	6
Semporna-Tawau	7	1050	105,000
Tawau	8	140	14,000
Total potential area		3885	388,500 ha

Table 5. Large-scale cultivation method and expected contribution for bioplastic production

Large-scale cultivation method	Expected yield (t/ha)	Expected annual seaweed production QM (Mt/y)	Expected annual phenol production P(Mt/y)	Expected total quantity of seaweed can be produced in 2050 (Mt)	Expected total phenol can be produced in 2050 (Mt)
Sea farming	36	13.986	10.385	475.524	353.077
Self-cultivation	60	0.6	0.446	20.4	15.147
Total		14.586	10.831	495.924	368.224

PlasticsEurope - association of plastics manufacturers, plastics – the facts 2017, PlasticsEurope 2017. Belgium; 2017.

 Google Scholar

Hussin H, Khoso A. Seaweed cultivation and coastal communities in Malaysia : an overview. Asian Fisheries Science. 2017;30:87–100.

 Google Scholar