Showing papers in "Biofuel research journal in 2022"
TL;DR: In this article , the authors present a review of sustainability tools for bioenergy and bioproduct systems, including techno-economic, life cycle assessment, emergy, energy, and exergy analyses.
Abstract: The pressing global challenges, including global warming and climate change, the Russia-Ukraine war, and the Covid-19 pandemic, all are indicative of the necessity of a transition from fossil-based systems toward bioenergy and bioproduct to ensure our plans for sustainable development. Such a transition, however, should be thoroughly engineered, considering the sustainability of the different elements of these systems. Advanced sustainability tools are instrumental in realizing this important objective. The present work critically reviews these tools, including techno-economic, life cycle assessment, emergy, energy, and exergy analyses, within the context of the bioenergy and bioproduct systems. The principles behind these methods are briefly explained, and then their pros and cons in designing, analyzing, and optimizing bioenergy and bioproduct systems are highlighted. Overall, it can be concluded that despite the promises held by these tools, they cannot be regarded as perfect solutions to address all the issues involved in realizing bioenergy and bioproduct systems, and integration of these tools can provide more reliable and accurate results than single approaches.
92 citations
TL;DR: In this article , a causal loop diagram is developed based on the trade-offs between food system elements and the biofuel supply chain, as well as the potential effects of the war on the food and energy systems worldwide, and the key to preventing food insecurity and keeping biofuel mandates on an increasing trend simultaneously amid the Ukraine war is to switch from the 1st Generation bio fuels to higher generations.
Abstract: The Ukraine war has immensely affected both food and energy systems due to the significant role of Russia in supplying natural gas and fertilizers globally and the extensive contribution of both Russia and Ukraine in exporting grains and oilseeds to the international markets. Hence, the Ukraine-Russia conflict has resulted in a shortage of crops and grains in the food market, especially in Europe, causing speculations if these resources should still be used for biofuel production (1st Generation). However, the International Energy Agency has warned that lowering biofuel mandates could result in rising petroleum demand and supply concerns. In light of these unfolding events, a systems thinking approach is required to monitor and analyze the implications of this crisis for food and biofuel markets as a whole to alleviate the concerns faced and plan sustainably. In this vein, based on the trade-offs between food system elements and the biofuel supply chain, as well as the potential effects of the war on the food and energy systems worldwide, a causal loop diagram is developed in the present work. According to the insights provided, the key to preventing food insecurity and keeping biofuel mandates on an increasing trend simultaneously amid the Ukraine war is to switch from the 1st Generation biofuels to higher generations. This transition would reduce not only the pressure on the food market to move toward zero hunger (SDG 2) but also pave the way to move towards a circular economy and clean and affordable energy (SDG 7) during the post-war era.
77 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors present an analysis of the carbon footprint of first-generation biofuel systems in terms of uncertainty sources: crop/feedstock, life cycle assessment (LCA), land use change (LUC), and greenhouse gas (GHG) metrics.
Abstract: Biofuel systems may represent a promising strategy to combat climate change by replacing fossil fuels in electricity generation and transportation. First-generation biofuels from sugar and starch crops for ethanol (a gasoline substitute) and from oilseed crops for biodiesel (a petroleum diesel substitute) have come under increasing levels of scrutiny due to the uncertainty associated with the estimation of climate change impacts of biofuels, such as due to indirect effects on land use. This analysis estimates the magnitude of some uncertainty sources: i) crop/feedstock, ii) life cycle assessment (LCA) modelling approach, iii) land-use change (LUC), and iv) greenhouse gas (GHG) metrics. The metrics used for characterising the different GHGs (global warming potential-GWP and global temperature change potential-GTP at different time horizons) appeared not to play a significant role in explaining the variance in the carbon footprint of biofuels, as opposed to the crop/feedstock used, the inclusion/exclusion of LUC considerations, and the LCA modelling approach (p<0.001). The estimated climate footprint of biofuels is dependent on the latter three parameters and, thus, is context-specific. It is recommended that these parameters be dealt with in a manner consistent with the goal and scope of the study. In particular, it is essential to interpret the results of the carbon footprint of biofuel systems in light of the choices made in each of these sources of uncertainty, and sensitivity analysis is recommended to overcome their influence on the result.
40 citations
TL;DR: In this article , a review is devoted to critically reviewing and numerically scrutinizing the use of exergy methods in analyzing the performance, cost, and environmental impact of biomass gasification systems.
Abstract: Biomass gasification technology is a promising process to produce a stable gas with a wide range of applications, from direct use to the synthesis of value-added biochemicals and biofuels. Due to the high capital/operating costs of the technology and the necessity for prudent management of thermal energy exchanges in the biomass gasification process, it is important to use advanced sustainability metrics to ensure that environmental and other sustainability factors are addressed beneficially. Consequently, various engineering techniques are being used to make decisions on endogenous and exogenous parameters of biomass gasification processes to find the most efficient, viable, and sustainable operations and conditions. Among available approaches, exergy methods have attracted much attention due to their scientific rigor in accounting for the performance, cost, and environmental impact of biomass gasification systems. Therefore, this review is devoted to critically reviewing and numerically scrutinizing the use of exergy methods in analyzing biomass gasification systems. First, a bibliometric analysis is conducted to systematically identify research themes and trends in exergy-based sustainability assessments of biomass gasification systems. Then, the effects of biomass composition, reactor type, gasifying agent, and operating parameters on the exergy efficiency of the process are thoroughly investigated and mechanistically discussed. Unlike oxygen, nitrogen, and ash contents of biomass, the exergy efficiency of the gasification process is positively correlated with the carbon and hydrogen contents of biomass. A mixed gasifying medium (CO2 and steam) provides higher exergy efficiency values. The downdraft fixed-bed gasifier exhibits the highest exergy efficiency among biomass gasification systems. Finally, opportunities and limitations of exergy methods for analyzing sustainability aspects of biomass gasification systems are outlined to guide future research in this domain.
27 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , concentrated acid condensate extract (CACE) obtained from microwave-assisted pyrolysis of palm kernel shells was fractionated, and the resulting fractions were pooled according to similar thin layer chromatography profiles into combined fractions (CFACs).
Abstract: Biomass valorisation is conventionally associated with the production of green biofuels. However, this could extend beyond the conventional perception of biomass application into other domains such as medical sciences. Acid condensate (AC) obtained from pyrolysis promises a good potential for biomedical applications, notably for its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, concentrated AC extract (CACE) obtained from microwave-assisted pyrolysis of palm kernel shells was fractionated, and the resulting fractions were pooled according to similar thin layer chromatography profiles into combined fractions (CFACs). CFACs were evaluated for total phenolic content, antioxidant level, cytotoxicity, and wound healing activities toward human skin fibroblast cells (HSF 1184). CFAC-3 showed the highest total phenolic content (624.98 ± 8.70 µg GAE/mg of sample) and antioxidant activities (DPPH IC50 of 29.47 ± 0.74 µg/mL, ABTS of 1247.13 ± 27.89 μg TE/mg sample, FRAP of 24.26 ± 0.71 mmol Fe(II)/mg sample, HFRS of 257.74 ± 1.74 µg/mL) compared to CACE (DPPH IC50 of 81.76 ± 2.81 µg/mL, ABTS of 816.95 ± 30.49 μg TE/mg sample, FRAP of 9.22 ± 0.66 mmol Fe(II)/mg sample, HFRS of 689.30 ± 36.00 µg/mL), no cytotoxic properties at ≤50 µg/mL, and significantly faster wound closure (at 1.25 µg/mL) compared to the control 12 h after treatment. The phosphorylation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and protein kinase B (AKT) were upregulated, thus indicating that wound healing of CFAC-3 followed through this signalling pathway. To conclude, phenolic-rich CFAC-3 obtained from the pyrolysis of palm kernel shells demonstrated potential biomedical application as an alternative wound healing agent with high antioxidant and wound-healing activity. To the best of our knowledge, this was the first study to report on the wound healing activity of AC and its wound healing mechanism.
16 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors explored hydrogen concentration and yield, tar content, gasification efficiency, and carbon conversion efficiency for co-gasification and microwave heating in hydrogen-rich syngas.
Abstract: Co-gasification contributes significantly to the generation of hydrogen-rich syngas since it not only addresses the issue of feedstock variation but also has synergistic benefits. In this article, recent research on hydrogen concentration and yield, tar content, gasification efficiency, and carbon conversion efficiency is explored systematically. In feedstocks with high water content, steam gasification and supercritical hydrothermal gasification technologies are ideal for producing hydrogen at a concentration of 57%, which can be increased to 82.9% using purification technology. Carbonized coals, chars, and cokes have high microwave absorption when used as feedstocks. Moreover, coconut activated carbon contains elements that provide a high tan δ value and are worthy of further development as feedstocks, adsorbents or catalysts. Meanwhile, the FeSO4 catalyst has the greatest capacity for storing microwave energy and producing dielectric losses; therefore, it can serve as both a catalyst and microwave absorber. Although microwave heating is preferable to conventional heating, the amount of hydrogen it generates remains modest, at 60% and 32.75% in single-feeding and co-feeding modes, respectively. The heating value of syngas produced using microwaves is 17.44 MJ/m³, much more than that produced via conventional heating. Thus, despite a lack of research on hydrogen-rich syngas generation based on co-gasification and microwave heating, such techniques have the potential to be developed at both laboratory and industrial scales. In addition, the dielectric characteristics of feedstocks, beds, adsorbents, and catalysts must be further investigated to optimize the performance of microwave heating processes.
16 citations
TL;DR: In this article , solid urea inclusion compounds (UICs) were formed to remove high melting-point linear saturated fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) components to reduce the CPs by removing high melting point linear saturated FAME components.
Abstract: Biodiesel is viewed as the alternative to petroleum diesel, but its poor low-temperature performance constrains its utilization. Cloud point (CP), the onset temperature of thermal crystallization, appropriately shows the low-temperature performance. The effective way to reduce CP is to remove saturated fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs). Compared to current methods, this work describes an extraordinary approach to fractionating FAMEs by forming solid urea inclusion compounds (UICs). Urea inclusion fractionation reduces the CPs by removing high melting-point linear saturated FAME components. Urea inclusion fractionation in this study was performed under various processing conditions: mass ratios of urea to FAMEs and solvents to FAMEs, various solvents, FAMEs from various feedstocks, and processing temperatures. Supersaturation of urea in the solution is the driving force, and it significantly affects yield, composition, CP, separation efficiency, and selectivity. Through a single urea inclusion fractionation process, FAMEs, except palm oil FAMEs, resulted in CP reduction ranging from 20 to 42 oC with a yield of 77–80% depending on the compositions. CP of palm oil FAMEs could reach as low as -17 oC with a yield of 46% after twice urea inclusion fractionation. According to the model prediction, the cetane number after urea inclusion fractionation decreased about 0.7–2 but was still higher than the minimum biodiesel requirement. Oxidation stability after urea inclusion decreased according to the proposed model, but this can be mitigated by adding antioxidants. Emission evaluation after urea inclusion fractionation indicated decreased hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter. However, it resulted in the increasing emission of nitrogen oxides.
14 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , the critical performance parameters of torrefaction for thermochemical biorefinery applications, such as solid yield, energy yield, carbon enhancement, higher heating value (HHV) enhancement, and energy-mass co-benefit index (EMCI), were also analyzed.
Abstract: Torrefaction is a vital pretreatment technology for thermochemical biorefinery applications like pyrolysis, gasification, and liquefaction. Oxidative torrefaction, an economical version of torrefaction, has recently gained much attention in the renewable energy field. Recent literature on inert and oxidative torrefaction was critically reviewed in this work to provide necessary guidance for future research and commercial implementations. The critical performance parameters of torrefaction for thermochemical biorefinery applications, such as solid yield, energy yield, carbon enhancement, higher heating value (HHV) enhancement, and energy-mass co-benefit index (EMCI), were also analyzed. Agricultural waste, woody biomass, and microalgae were considered. The analysis reveals that woody biomass could equally benefit from oxidative or inert torrefaction. In contrast, inert torrefaction was found more suitable for agricultural wastes and microalgae. Using flue gas as the oxidative torrefaction medium and waste biomass as the feedstock could achieve a circular economy, improving the sustainability of oxidative torrefaction for thermochemical biorefineries. The significant challenges in oxidative torrefaction include high ash content in torrefied agricultural waste, the oxidative thermal runaway of fibrous biomass during torrefaction, temperature control, and scale-up in reactors. Some proposed solutions to address these challenges are combined washing and torrefaction pretreatment, balancing oxygen content, temperature, and residence time, depending on the biomass type, and recirculating torrefaction gases.
13 citations
TL;DR: ALD could be used as a promising cultivation medium for microalgae, offering a process integration approach to combine anaerobic digestion and algae cultivation as an effective way to simultaneously treat the high-strength dark-colored ALD and valorize it into profitable byproducts.
Abstract: Economizing microalgal cultivation is a considerable milestone targeted by efforts put into microalgal biorefineries. In light of that, the present study was aimed to explore the potential of using anaerobic liquid digestate (ALD) as culture media to grow microalgae and compared it with three different synthetic media (i.e., N8, BBM, and M8) in terms of biomass yield, fatty acid composition, and nutrient utilization/recovery. Moreover, a mixed culture of wild-type microalgae was employed in this study owing to the ability of mixed cultures to survive extreme conditions, eliminating the risk of losing the culture easily, as it mostly happens with pure cultures. The highest nutrient yield coefficients were achieved when the mixed microalgae culture was cultivated in ALD, where the yield coefficient for nitrogen (YN) and yield coefficient for phosphorus (YP) were 10.7 mg biomass mg-1 N and 98 mg biomass mg-1 P, respectively. The highest lipid content (34%) and the highest concentrations of C16:0 (114 mg L-1) and C18:0 (60.9 mg L-1) were also recorded when the mixed microalgae culture was cultivated in ALD. Furthermore, the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) content also increased significantly in ALD, a beneficial phenomenon as PUFAs in microalgae allow them to adapt more effectively to extreme conditions. Based on the microbial community analysis performed using the multi-marker metabarcoding approach, Diphylleia rotans, Synechocystis PCC-6803, Cyanobium gracile PCC 6307, and Chlorella sorokiniana were identified as the most abundant species in the ALD growth. Overall, based on the findings of the present study, ALD could be used as a promising cultivation medium for microalgae, offering a process integration approach to combine anaerobic digestion and algae cultivation as an effective way to simultaneously treat the high-strength dark-colored ALD and valorize it into profitable byproducts.
9 citations
TL;DR: The pyrolytic char morphology was similar to that of the natural precursor of Quercus suber L and the produced cork biochar belonged to Class 1 (C > 60%) and possessed a high heating value of 32 MJ kg−1 as discussed by the authors .
Abstract: Cork granules (Quercus suber L.) were slowly pyrolyzed at temperatures between 400-700 °C and under N2 flow. While preserving its structure, some cells of the cork biochar became interconnected, allowing such carbon residue to be used as templates for manufacturing ceria redox materials. The pyrolytic char morphology was similar to that of the natural precursor. The produced cork biochar belonged to Class 1 (C > 60%) and possessed a high heating value of 32 MJ kg−1. Other pyrolysis-derived compounds were identified and quantified through GC-FID and GC-MS analyses. The yield of gases released during cork pyrolysis was strongly dependent on the temperature used due to the thermal decomposition reactions involved in the degradation of cork. In particular, rising pyrolysis temperature from 500 to 700 ºC resulted in reducing the total hydrocarbon gases from 74 to 24 vol%. On the other hand, the yield of H2 increased from 0 to 58% by increasing the pyrolysis temperature from 400 to 700 ºC. Due to the presence of suberin in cork, the composition and yield of bio-oil could be regulated by the pyrolysis temperature. Cork bio-oil was found to consist of long-chain hydrocarbons (from C11 to C24). The bio-oil resulting from the slow pyrolysis of cork residues is suitable as an appropriate feedstock for producing aliphatic-rich pyrolytic biofuels or as a source of olefins. Overall, the findings of this study suggest that Quercus suber L. could be a promising feedstock for biochar and biofuel production through the pyrolytic route and could contribute to the environmental and economic sustainability of the cork production industry.
8 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , a novel bionic flow-induced peristaltic reactor with a high conversion rate is constructed to realize efficient biofuel production from high-concentration high-viscosity fluids.
Abstract: Intensification of biofuel production processes could play a critical role in boosting the economic and environmental features of the whole process. A novel bionic flow-induced peristaltic reactor with a high conversion rate is constructed to realize efficient biofuel production from high-concentration high-viscosity fluids. It is experimentally verified through biodiesel production from soybean oil. Experimental results show that the conversion efficiency is up to 89.9% at 10 s in the peristaltic reactor, which is 38.4% higher than that in the rigid tube reactor. Furthermore, a three-dimensional peristaltic model is conducted to understand the mechanism of heat and mass transfer enhancement. The simulation results show that an increase in peristaltic amplitude strengthens the mixing of the bionic peristaltic reactor by 92.5-100.8%. The temperature distribution in the bionic peristaltic reactor is more uniform than in the traditional rigid tube reactor. The results demonstrate that the conversion rate of soybean oil in the bionic flow-induced peristaltic reactor is 528.82% min-1, which is 17-60 times higher than other intensified reactors operating in either continuous or batch modes.
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors investigated the properties of sugarcane bagasse fuel pellets treated by dry and wet torrefaction and evaluated the economic value of selling the fuel pellets, which were priced based on their quality.
Abstract: When fossil fuel substitution with biomass is viewed as a potential solution to global warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions, the demand for biomass fuel pellets has increased worldwide. Although agricultural waste is an attractive potential feedstock for fuel pellet production due to its relatively high calorific value and low cost, its excessive ash content is a major drawback. This research investigates the properties of sugarcane bagasse fuel pellets treated by dry and wet torrefaction and evaluates the economic value of selling the fuel pellets, which were priced based on their quality. It was found that the wet torrefaction could significantly reduce the ash content in the product (1% ash content at a torrefaction temperature of above 180°C), resulting in higher quality and more marketable fuel pellets. Consequently, the yield and the net present value of the production of wet torrefied fuel pellets were greater than those of dry torrefied pellets. Nevertheless, the production of fuel pellets from sugarcane bagasse treated by either process is shown to be economically viable.
TL;DR: In this paper , an experimental investigation into the generation and characterization of pyrolytic oil and biochar from Sal wood sawdust (SW) was performed in a semi-batch reactor at 500 oC and 80 oC/min heating rate with CaO, CuO, and Al2O3 catalysts.
Abstract: The present work deals with an experimental investigation into the generation and characterization of pyrolytic oil and biochar from Sal wood sawdust (SW). The pyrolysis experiment was performed in a semi-batch reactor at 500 oC and 80 oC/min heating rate with CaO, CuO, and Al2O3 catalysts. Further, the pyrolytic oil and biochar were investigated using different analyses, including proximate analysis, elemental analysis, thermal stability, GC-MS, FTIR, field emission scanning electron microscopy, electrical conductivity analysis, higher heating value (HHV), zeta potential analysis, and ash content analysis. Pyrolysis results revealed that compared to thermal pyrolysis (46.02 wt%), the pyrolytic oil yield was improved by catalytic pyrolysis with CaO and CuO (50.02 and 48.23 wt%, respectively). Further, the characterization of pyrolytic oil revealed that the loading of catalysts considerably improved the oil's properties by lowering its viscosity (69.50 to 22 cSt), ash content (0.26 to 0.11 wt%), and oxygen content (28.32 to16.60 %) while raising its acidity (4.2 to 9.6), heating value (25.66 to 36.09 MJ/kg), and carbon content (61.79 to 74.28%). According to the FTIR analysis, the pyrolytic oil contained hydrocarbons, phenols, aromatics, alcohols, and oxygenated compounds. Additionally, the GC-MS analysis showed that catalysts significantly reduced oxygenated fractions, phenols (20.23 to 15.26%), acids (12.23 to 6.56%), and increased hydrocarbons (12 to 16 wt%). Additionally, the results of the biochar analysis demonstrated that SW biochar was appropriate for a range of industrial applications, including in catalysts, supercapacitors, fuel cells, and bio-composite materials.
TL;DR: In this article , the authors used an active natural zeolite whose acidity level varied depending on the Si/Al ratio after dealumination with 3, 5, and 7 M hydrochloric acid, proceeded by calcination with nitrogen gas flow (designated as Z3, Z5, and Z7, respectively).
Abstract: Bio-oil includes significant levels of oxygenate molecules, which might induce component instability and reduce its physicochemical qualities. To counteract this, the component must undergo a hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) reaction. Due to the presence of acidic active sites, zeolites have been shown to have high hydrogenation and deoxygenation capabilities. However, natural zeolite has a large number of impurities and low acidity density. Consequently, before being employed as an HDO catalyst, pretreatments such as preparation and activation are required. In this study, the catalyst used was an active natural zeolite whose acidity level varied depending on the Si/Al ratio after dealumination with 3, 5, and 7 M hydrochloric acid, proceeded by calcination with nitrogen gas flow (designated as Z3, Z5, and Z7, respectively). The results showed that dealumination and calcination of zeolite generally caused changes in its physical characteristics and components. The Z5 catalyst showed the best catalytic performance in the HDO process of bio-oil. The higher heating value (HHV) of bio-oil increased from 12 to 18 MJ/kg, the viscosity value doubled, the degree of deoxygenation increased to 77%, and the water content reduced dramatically to about one-third of that of raw bio-oil. Moreover, control compounds, such as carboxylic acids, decreased slightly, but the amount of phenol increased to about twice the content in raw bio-oil.
TL;DR: In this paper , the combustion emission nanoparticles (NPs) were collected from four representative wood burning boilers using oak cordwood at specific times in the burn cycle and characterized using transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis.
Abstract: Biomass-burning boilers and stoves are widely used in many parts of the world, producing combustion emissions linked with health risks. Combustion emission nanoparticles (NPs) were collected from four representative wood burning boilers using oak cordwood at specific times in the burn cycle. The morphology and composition of the NPs was characterized using transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. To determine the degree of NP cytotoxicity with human lung tissue, the combustion NPs were introduced to incubated lung bronchial epithelial monolayers (NCI-H292) in vitro at doses of 0.1 × 10-6 and 3.0 × 10-6 kg/L for 2 and 4 h. Histochemical analysis showed that cell death increased by a factor of 3.5 for both doses after 4 h when compared to the control. Ultrapure NPs prepared by wet chemical methods were also introduced to the epithelial lung cells for similar doses and exposure times and the cultures exhibited significantly reduced mortality. Electron microscopy was used to study the mechanism of cell mortality for the synthesized and combustion-based NPs by examining how the NP byproducts interacted with individual cell organelles. It was found that cell survival was strongly correlated with the absence of contaminants (salts, heavy metals, poly aromatic hydrocarbons) associated with the NPs entering the cells. Synthesized NPs consisting of pure carbon were relatively well tolerated and could be excreted without damaging the cell ultrastructure. Thus, careful removal of extraneous contaminants by controlling the burn cycle with a catalyst is essential to minimize the health and environmental effects of wood biofuel combustion. In better words, optimized advanced technology wood-burning boilers and stoves can provide a CO2-neutral energy source and significantly contribute to a future where fossil fuels have a reduced role.
TL;DR: In this article , the sustainability of the current palm-based biorefinery system in Thailand, including cooking oil and biodiesel, was assessed through life cycle assessment (LCA), net energy balance (NEB) and net energy ratio (NER), employment generation, and eco-efficiency.
Abstract: Palm-based biorefinery system has gained attention worldwide because of potentially high economic returns. However, environmental impacts also increase with the additional production. Therefore, this study aims to assess the sustainability of (1) current palm-based biorefinery system in Thailand, including cooking oil and biodiesel, and (2) palm-based biorefinery system with value-added products, i.e., succinic acid, lactic acid, bio-hydrogenated diesel (BHD), and epichlorohydrin (ECH) that represent biomaterial, biofuel, and biochemical products, respectively. Accordingly, seven palm-based biorefinery scenarios were designed, and their sustainability was assessed through life cycle assessment (LCA), net energy balance (NEB) and net energy ratio (NER), employment generation, and eco-efficiency. The results revealed that value-added production increased global warming impacts by around 3 – 79% compared with the current system. Although environmental impacts increased due to the additional processes related to the production of the value-added products, total product values also increased, especially for succinic acid, generally leading to higher eco-efficiency values. The current palm-based biorefinery system with succinic acid production had the highest eco-efficiency among all the scenarios considered. The BHD production scenario had the highest NEB and NER because the products were used for energy. Employment generation increased for all the scenarios between 2 – 86% compared with the current system.