Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Ethanol Production from Agricultural Residues

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a tool for assessmg the environmental ramifications of products and processes. It enables the comparison of alternative solutions, streamlines the decision-making process, and facilitates the identification of potential areas for enhancement. In this study, a comprehensive and methodical investigation was carried out on the LCA of second generation (2G) bioethanol produced from agricultural residues containing cellulose and hemicellulose. This analysis incorporated a review of the LCA conducted worldwide on 2G bioethanol from agricultural residues involving various pretreatment techniques, including physiochemical and organic methods. Additionally, this study included an investigation of multiple databases to analyse the environmental impact via LCA.