Economic and agronomic impact assessment of wheat straw based alkyl polyglucoside produced using green chemical approaches

• Published in: Journal of cleaner production Vol. 209; pp. 283 - 296
• Main Authors: Lokesh, Kadambari, West, Christopher, Kuylenstierna, Johan CI, Fan, Jiajun, Budarin, Vitaliy, Priecel, Peter, Lopez-Sanchez, Jose A., Clark, James H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-02-2019
• Subjects: Agronomic analysis; Cradle to gate; LCA; Life cycle costing; Resource efficiency; Cradle to gate; Life cycle costing; LCA; Agronomic analysis; Resource efficiency
• ISSN: 0959-6526; 1879-1786
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.10.220

Results from a previous environmental impact assessment highlight the potential for the proposed process, that converts low-value agricultural residue (wheat straw) into a high-value biosurfactant, to result in significant (>75%) GHG savings, relative to the commercial candidate derived from palm kernel and wheat grain. This was achieved via the use of low-energy techniques like supercritical CO2 extraction, low-temperature microwave and in-situ fractionation of platform chemicals. Despite the environmental benefits, process commercialization relies on the economic feasibility of the production. Adopting a ‘cradle-to-gate’ life cycle costing approach, this paper has quantified the economic feasibility and resource efficiency characteristics of producing wheat-straw based APG, via the previously suggested green low-waste generating processes. Here, we undertook economic analysis of a wheat straw-derived APG production pathway, in comparison to palm-kernel and wheat-grain APG. Total processing costs were determined to range between $0.92- $1.87 per kg of wheat straw-APG demonstrating relatively better output service quality and energy efficiency, while conventional APG costs $1.95- $2.87 per kg, highlighting the significant potential of the residue-derived pathway to be scaled to commercial-level. In addition, a semi-quantitative assessment of the demand-based implications of adopting and scaling-up the green process, in the current context and practices of wheat cultivation was also undertaken. Potential agronomic impact that might be result from such scale-up scenarios, focusing on the effect of conventional residue incorporation practiced by farmers was assessed in detail to encourage farmers opt for informed choices and also to encourage both environmentally and economically sustainable systems-thinking.
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•Economic-viability of producing biosurfactants from low-value straw is quantified.•Material circularity based resource efficiency characteristics have been proposed.•Low-energy processes in the proposed-pathway proves to be less-expensive.•Appropriate agronomic studies capturing “post scale-up” scenario has been assessed.