LCA, Sustainability and Techno-Economic Studies for PHA Production

The sustainability of a new process in development can be measured by comparing diverse production methodologies using Life Cycle Assessment-based ecological footprint methodology known as Sustainable Process Index Rather, it is the holistic life cycle of a (bio)material which needs to be considered before a reliable, straightforward assessment of its sustainability can be done. The key sub-processes shown in the process design flowsheet include hydrolysis, rendering, biodiesel production, biotechnological fermentation, and related downstream processing for polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) recovery from biomass and PHA purification. This chapter discusses a study that provides techno-economic as well as sustainability feasibility, including material collection, material and energy flow for the key subprocesses (hydrolysis, rendering, biodiesel production, fermentation, and downstream processing, biogas production, and wastewater treatment) calculated for a 10,000 t/year PHA production facility. A detailed economic analysis of the sub-processes based on investment costs, operating costs, and sensitivity analysis is also given.