Life Cycle Assessment of Soybean Biodiesel and LPG as Automotive Fuels in Portugal

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2010

Authors

Sérgio Morais (Author) FEUP; Teresa M. Mata (Author) FEUP; Eugénio C. Ferreira (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Chemical Engineering Transactions

Vol. 19

Pages: 267-272

ISSN: 1974-9791

Publisher: Italian Association of Chemical Engineering - AIDIC

Indexing

Scopus

Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology > Other engineering and technologies

CORDIS: Technological sciences

Other information

DOI: 10.3303/CET1019044

Abstract (EN): This study aims to compare soy methyl esters (biodiesel) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as automotive fuels in Portugal using LCA. The potential environmental impacts (PEI) associated with their life cycles are compared for twelve impact categories. As a general conclusion biodiesel has a lower total PEI than LPG. Nonetheless biodiesel shows higher values of some individual impact categories such as acidification, photo-oxidant formation, terrestrial eutrophication, and land use. This study results can be used to support decision making and recommendations about the environmentally preferable fuel to be used in Portugal, which should be complemented with economic and societal considerations.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific