Using lignin from local biorefineries for asphalts: LCA case study for the Netherlands

Lignin for energy applications – state of the art, life cycle, technoeconomic analysis and future trends

“…It is widely used to estimate the environmental impact or benefit of an existing or new technology. Since the interest on lignin as an alternative to fossil-fuels based technologies has gained considerable attention recently, lignin-only LCA studies have emerged, which are either focused on lignin extraction [289][290][291][292][293][294][295][296][297][298][299] or lignin-based products (asphalt, [300][301][302][303][304] adhesives, [305][306][307] resins, 308 fine chemicals, [309][310][311][312][313][314] carbon fibres 315 and fuels. 287,[316][317][318][319][320] Lignin as a product from biorefineries is a new concept, therefore most of the LCA conducted are based on either well quantified extraction processes such as Kraft or based on experimental lab scale data which has been extrapolated.…”

“…LCA where lignin is the end product typically uses 1 kg lignin as the functional unit. 299,300,323 The country where the product is manufactured affects the outcome of an LCA. For example, the carbon footprint of electricity is significantly lower where renewable or nuclear energy sources are used.…”

“…Most recent LCA conducted on lignin use data provided by biorefineries, leading to more reliable results. 300 Due to the nature of a biorefinery, lignin is the product of a multi-output process: 323 the allocation of the environmental impact between lignin and its co-products (such as cellulose, electricity, ethanol) from biorefineries is of most importance to quantify the GWP. 300,316,326,327 The ISO 14044:2006 guidelines provides a hierarchy to deal with multi-product systems such as biorefineries, with three levels: subdivision, system expansion and allocation.…”

“…Moretti's studies on Asphalt produced from Kraft mills assigned between 7 to 10% of the whole environmental impact to acidification (vs. 20 to 54% to GWP). 300,301 According to Culbertson, between 58%-68% of the acidification is due to the use of natural gas. Bernier evaluated the acidification value to be 5.3 × 10 −3 kg SO 2,eq.…”

“…20 to 54% to GWP). 300,301 According to Culbertson, between 58%–68% of the acidification is due to the use of natural gas. Bernier evaluated the acidification value to be 5.3 × 10 −3 kg SO 2,eq.…”