Sustainability of Thermochemical Waste Conversion Technologies

This book presents the sustainability of biofuel and biochemical production via thermochemical conversion pathways. Vast varieties of biomass and waste materials, such as municipal wastes and lignocellulosic biomass have been found to be excellent sources of raw materials for cost-efficient biofuel production through thermochemical conversion technologies. However, assessing the sustainability of waste conversion pathways would help pinpoint inefficiencies to improve the process economically, environmentally, and energetically. While there are many pathways for thermochemical waste conversion (such as combustion, gasification, and pyrolysis) which operate on laboratory, pilot, and commercial scales, their sustainability indices are scarce as there are few sustainability assessment tools to help pinpoint inefficiencies and hence improve the process. This book discusses the major sustainable potential feedstocks for thermochemical conversion into bioproducts such as biofuel and industrial waste and assesses the sustainability of these pathways using technoeconomic analysis as well as exergetic life cycle assessment tools. Common sustainability issues and proposals for the way forward for sustainable thermochemical waste conversion into bioproducts are detailed in this book. In addition, alternative thermochemical waste conversion process development is also discussed. Given its scope, this is a valuable resource for students, renewable energy policy makers, and researchers in academia and related industries as well as the general public who have great interest in biofuels for sustainable development.