Potential of bioethanol as a chemical building block for biorefineries: Preliminary sustainability assessment of 12 bioethanol-based products

Abstract

The aim of this study is to present and apply aquick screening method and to identify the most promising bioethanol derivatives using an early- stage sustainability assessment method that compares abioetha- nol-base d conversion route to its respective petrochemical counterpart. The method combines, by means of a multi-criteria app roach, quantitative and qualitative proxy indicato rs describing economic, environ- mental, health and safety and operational aspects. Of twelve derivatives considered, fivewere catego- rized as favorable (diethyl ether, 1,3-butadiene, ethyl acetate, propylene and ethylene),two as promis ing (acetaldehydeand ethylene oxide)and fiveas unfavorable derivatives (aceticacid, n-butanol, isobutylene, hydrogen and acetone)for an integrated biorefineryconcept.