GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS FROM PRODUCTION AND USE OF WASTE PALM OIL METHYL ESTER
Somporn Pleanjai 1,2, Shabbir H .Gheewala 2*, Savitri Garivait 2, Boonthong Ungtrakul 3 and Chanchai Klubchum 3
1 Chemical Research Institute, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, Thanyaburi
Pathumthani 12110 Thailand
2 The Joint Graduate School of Energy and Environment, King Mongkut’s University of Technology
Thonburi, 126 Prachauthit Rd., Bangmod, Tungkru, Bangkok 10140 Thailand Tel: (662) 4708309-10, 8729014-5 ext.4139, Fax: (662) 8729805, E-mail:
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3 Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency, Ministry of Energy
ABSTRACT
Biodiesel, produced from various vegetable and/or animal oils, is one of the most promising alternative fuels for transportation in Thailand. In its principal use, biodiesel is a potential replacement for conventional diesel. However, most of the vegetable oils such as palm and coconut oil are already being used for food. Another option would be to consider biodiesel production from used vegetable oil. Currently, waste oils after use in cooking are not disposed adequately. Such oils could serve as a feedstock for biodiesel which would also address the waste disposal issue. The purpose of this study is to compare the life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from waste palm oil methyl ester (WPOME) and conventional diesel used in transport. The life cycle of the WPOME starts from transportation of the waste oil to the biodiesel production plant until use in light duty diesel vehicle (LD), whereas that of conventional diesel starts from transport of crude oil to the refinery until diesel use in light duty diesel vehicle (LD). The functional unit (FU) is 100 km transportation by LD under identical driving conditions. Life cycle GHG emissions from conventional diesel are about 32.72 kgCO2.eq/FU. On the other hand, WPOME generated 27.53 kgCO2.eq/FU, out of which about 96% emissions were from the use phase. GHG emissions from the combustion of WPOME, being of biogenic origin, do not contribute to global warming. Hence, a fuel switch from conventional diesel to WPOME will contribute greatly to a reduction in global warming potential. This will also support the Thai Government’s policy to promote the use of indigenous and renewable sources for transportation fuels.
Keywords : biodiesel, conventional diesel, greenhouse gas, life cycle assessment, waste palm oil methyl ester
