Energy and Environmental Analysis of Different Methods for Using Bagasse from Sugarcane by Life Cycle Assessment Approach

Abstract

One of the most significant challenges in the agricultural sector is managing waste from its products. This study examined the energy and environmental indicators of three products derived from sugarcane bagasse including: compost, livestock feed and medium fiberboard produced in the agriculture and industry of the Imam Khomeini factory in Shushtar, Khuzestan Province of Iran. The energy analysis results showed that the total energy output for producing one ton of compost, livestock feed, and one m³ of fiberboard was 300 MJ, 32,170 MJ, and 34,390 MJ and the energy ratio was 0.007, 1.41, and 2.38, respectively. Urea fertilizer (75% of total energy share) in compost production, peat bagasse (45% of total energy share) in livestock feed production and polyurethane adhesive (52% of total energy share) in fiberboard production were identified as the most consumed inputs for each product. The environmental results showed that the total environmental damage (Final Environmental Index) for compost, livestock feed and medium fiberboard was 1.077 pp ton⁻¹, 9.02 pp ton⁻¹ and 3.43 pp ton⁻¹, respectively.