Life Cycle Assessment of Biofuels from Microalgae

Abstract

Recently, the use of mathematical tools, such as the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology for ecologically sound processes, with the purpose of establishing a process designer involving the limits of “cradle to grave” in an efficient and flexible way with less subjectivity, has become an ambitious challenge to be won. Therefore, to generate biofuels with low atmospheric emissions and minimal energy requirements has become crucial to commercial competitiveness. Thus, the objective of this chapter is to approach the current situation of the different scenarios of microalgal biofuels production by an evaluation of them via a life cycle assessment. The chapter is based on three main topics: (1) fundamentals for structuring a life cycle assessment, (2) biofuels data set reported in the literature, and (3) application of LCA in microalgae biofuels.