Comparison of Thermochemical Conversion Processes for Antibiotic Residues: Insights from Life Cycle Assessment

Abstract

Life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted to evaluate the environmental impacts and health risks associated with four thermochemical conversion technologies: incineration, gasification, pyrolytic liquefaction, and hydrothermal liquefaction. Results revealed that all processes yielded positive net environmental benefits (3.8–8.2 kg CO2-eq/kg AR reduction), with hydrothermal liquefaction exhibiting the lowest emissions (GWP-5.71 kg CO2-eq/kg). However, its widespread application has been hindered by process limitations, and enhancing catalytic efficiency has been identified as a critical area for future research. Incineration ranked second in terms of environmental benefits and remains the most favorable method according to existing studies. In contrast, gasification and pyrolytic liquefaction did not demonstrate significant environmental advantages, primarily due to the high energy consumption required for drying. Consequently, optimizing the drying process has been highlighted as a key focus for future research efforts. This study provided valuable insights for the safe disposal and resource recovery of antibiotic residue.