Work

Life Cycle Assessment of CO2, Rumen, and Biological Biomass Pretreatment Methods for Biomethane Production

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This study evaluates the environmental impacts of different biomass pretreatment methods used for biomethane production using a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach. The three examined pretreatment technologies—CO2 injection, rumen fluid, and biological products—were applied to manure, alfalfa biomass, and winter wheat straw. The results indicate that cow manure pretreatment with CO2 increases fossil fuel depletion from 0.37 MJ/m3 to 17.31 MJ/m3 and increasing global warming potential by 1.08 kg CO2 eq/m3. Rumen fluid pretreatment moderately improves fossil fuel conservation but raises acidification (from 1.57 × 10−4 kg SO2 eq/m3 to 2.49 × 10−4 kg SO2 eq/m3) and eutrophication (from 2.67 × 10−5 kg PO4 eq/m3 to 5.3 × 10−5 kg PO4 eq/m3). Winter wheat straw CO2 pretreatment demonstrates the most favorable environmental profile, reducing human toxicity (from 0.1 kg 1,4-DB eq/m3 to 0.0058 kg 1,4-DB eq/m3) and minimizing fossil fuel depletion. The environmental trade-offs of biomethane production suggest that optimizing pretreatment strategies is essential to ensuring sustainable production.

Source: Agriculture

DOI: 10.3390/agriculture15111169

Authors: Bronius Žalys, Kęstutis Navickas, Kęstutis Venslauskas

Institutions: Lithuanian Energy Institute, Vytautas Magnus University

Language: English

Topic: Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Production

Subfield: Building and Construction

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Responsible consumption and production, Climate action, Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137