Biological Systems Engineering
Date of this Version
3-28-2011
Abstract
Conclusions
• Regulatory LCA is not likely to be used for non‐fuel chemicals alone in the near future
• Significant GHG emission credits for corn‐ethanol can be obtained by using only roughly 6‐9% of initial starch for production of biopolymers based on previous LCA theory
• Pay close attention to values in calculating credits per kg—these have to stand up in litigation to ensure the credit
• Credits are proportional to the mass of polymer produced
• Many theoretical issues are uncertain and credits will only be determined in conjunction with EPA
• Indirect emissions are uncertain and are a dominant factor in determining total life cycle GHG emissions and the importance of potential co‐product credits from biopolymers
Comments
Presented at 241st American Chemical Society national meeting, March 28, 2011,
Anaheim, CA. Copyright 2011 Adam J. Liska and Xiao Xue Fang.