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Life cycle assessment for hydrothermal carbonization of urban organic solid waste in comparison with gasification process: A case study of Southern Chile
Author(s) -
Corvalán Constanza,
Espinoza Pérez Andrea Teresa,
DíazRobles Luis A.,
Cubillos Francisco,
Vallejo Fidel,
Gómez Jaime,
PinoCortés Ernesto,
EspinozaPérez Lorena,
Pelz Stefan K.,
Paczkowski Sebastian,
Rumberg Michael,
Carrasco Samuel,
Silva Javier,
Lapuerta Magín,
CerecedaBalic Francisco,
Pazo Amparo,
Monedero Esperanza,
Meriño Juan Figueroa
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
environmental progress and sustainable energy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.495
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1944-7450
pISSN - 1944-7442
DOI - 10.1002/ep.13688
Subject(s) - life cycle assessment , greenhouse gas , environmental science , waste management , municipal solid waste , environmental impact assessment , hydrothermal carbonization , waste to energy , dispose pattern , carbonization , environmental engineering , production (economics) , engineering , materials science , scanning electron microscope , ecology , macroeconomics , economics , composite material , biology
Most developing countries lack sufficient legal and management infrastructure to dispose of urban solid waste (USW). The continuous increase of USW generation requires evaluating different treatments for developing countries based on the life cycle assessment methodology to compare the environmental impact by reducing greenhouse gases and leachate. Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) and gasification processes are presented as potential solutions for USW treatment due to their efficiency in producing energy for local requirements. This study aimed to compare both technologies for Temuco and Padre Las Casas cities in Southern Chile that show severe air pollution and USW management problems. The results indicated that gasification had a better environmental performance than HTC when the conversion of 1 ton of organic fraction USW was analyzed. However, since HTC achieved higher energy efficiency, it had a lower environmental impact than gasification, considering the production of 1 MWh. For a definitive choice of the technology to be used, it is necessary to compare other variables, including economic and social aspects, to provide a holistic perspective.