Human and environmental impact assessment for a soybean biodiesel production process through the integration of LCA and RA

Abstract

Biodiesel is one of the most important global renewable fuels produced by vegetable biomass. It is the main green fuel produced and utilized in Europe (in this context Italy is the 4th producer country) and the result of national biofuel mandates. The EU Renewable Energy Directive imposes to reach a minimum threshold of 10∈% diesel blending with biodiesel by 2020 in order to reduce global warming. Biodiesel has many positive aspects, it is a renewable, non-ecotoxic and obtained from vegetable oils and animal fats with a favorable balance in terms of GWP (Global Warming Potential) and EROI (Energy Return On Investment), but its production has also some critical aspects mainly related to its impacts on the environment and health. The aim of this chapter is to demonstrate how an approach for the assessment of these impacts, by means of the integration of LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) and RA (Risk Assessment) methodologies, helps in evaluating the acceptability of the process.