Abstract
In this article, sugarcane molasses and agave juice were compared as potential feedstocks for producing bioethanol in Mexico in terms of their environmental impact and economic factors. Life cycle assessment (LCA) using SimaPro was carried out to calculate environmental impacts by using a cradle-to-gate approach. A preliminary economic analysis was performed to determine the economic feasibility of the studied options. Also, capital goods costs were obtained using the Aspen Plus economy package. Moreover, a sensitivity analysis was involved to compare the environmental and economic viability of producing bioethanol from sugarcane molasses and agave juice. LCA results revealed that cultivation and fermentation were the most harmful stages when producing bioethanol from sugarcane molasses and agave juice, respectively. Furthermore, when it was derived from agave juice rather than sugarcane molasses, it had more environmental benefits. This was ascribed to the lower consumption rate of fertilizers, pesticides, and emissions given off from the former. Regarding financial aspects, the preliminary analysis showed that producing bioethanol was not economically viable when grid energy alone was used. However, if power from the grid is partially replaced with renewable energy, producing bioethanol becomes economically feasible, and sugarcane molasses is the most suitable feedstock.Graphical abstract
Highlights
Climate change—mainly due to the increase in CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion, industry, and transport—is a severe threat to life on our planet
It is generally agreed that it must change from crude oil to renewable fuels if it is to overcome the unfavorable effects of climate change (Rendon-Sagardi et al 2014)
It had the highest impact on human toxicity potential—non-cancer (HTPnc) (47%), whereas bioethanol production showed the lowest contribution in all categories (
Summary
Climate change—mainly due to the increase in CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion, industry, and transport—is a severe threat to life on our planet. Environ Sci Pollut Res adverse effects (Sanchez et al 2020b). Mexico, whose main source of energy is crude oil, is considered to be one of the largest contributors to CO2 emissions in Latin America (Hanif 2017; Sarmiento et al 2019). It is generally agreed that it must change from crude oil to renewable fuels if it is to overcome the unfavorable effects of climate change (Rendon-Sagardi et al 2014). Bioethanol is one potential renewable fuel, whose combustion is more efficient than gasoline, and, gives off fewer emissions of pollutants such as SOx, NOx, and particulate matter (Zabed et al 2017)
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