Life cycle assessment of safflower and sugar beet molasses-based biofuels

This study aims to evaluate the environmental effects of using safflower oil and molasses-based bioethanol by calculating the environmental impacts of safflower oil methyl ester (SOME), safflower oil ethyl ester (SOEE), and molasses-based bioethanol. The results were compared to fossil-based fuels (diesel and gasoline) within the life cycle assessment framework. Characterization results obtained with Eco-indicator 99 method indicate all three biofuels are more advantageous than fossil fuels in all categories (carcinogens, climate change, respiratory effects, acidification/eutrophication, ecotoxicity, fossil fuel use) except mineral and land use. Based on the normalization results, fossil fuel and land use are the most important environmental impact categories. Using the IPCC method, the carbon intensity was calculated at 16.72, 15.24, 22.23, 99.45, and 108.48 g CO2 per MJ for SOME, SOEE, bioethanol, diesel, and gasoline, respectively.