Page 132 - Materials Chemistry, Second Edition

118 K. T. Lee and C. Ofori-Boateng

Fig. 12 Total energy inputs into PME production by the transportation stages. T1 Transportation
of seedlings to plantation site, T2 transportation of FFB from plantation site after harvest to oil
mill, T3 transportation of RPO to biodiesel production plant, T4 transportation of PME to
consumer

4.3 Life Cycle Impact Assessment

Life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) is a major step in LCA which provides basic
indicators for analyzing the potential environmental contributions of all the
resource extractions including wastes and emissions. Eco-Indicator 99 (EI 99,
Agalitarian Approach [AH]) was used to assess the environmental impacts asso-
ciated with the life cycle of palm oil biodiesel. Standard LCIA comprises (1)
impact categories selection and classification, (2) characterization, and (3) valu-
ation steps.

4.3.1 Impact Category Selection and Classification

The potential environmental impact categories selected for this chapter according
2
to EI99, AH method of LCIA, include land use/conversion (PDF*m *a) 1,2 acidi-
2
2
fication/nitrification potential (PDF*m *a), ecotoxicity potentials (PDF*m *a),
fossil fuel use (MJ surplus energy), mineral resources (MJ surplus energy), climate
3
change (DALY), ozone layer depletion potential (DALY), radiation potential
(DALY), carcinogenic effects (DALY), respiratory organics (DALY), and respi-
ratory inorganics (DALY). The complete human health impact is obtained by
adding up all the DALY values, while the ecosystem impacts and resource
depletion are obtained by adding up the PDF and surplus energy, respectively.
These categories were selected based on their relevance for assessing the

1
PDF: Potentially disappeared fraction (plant species disappeared as a result of the impacts).
2
a: year (annually).
3
DALY: Disability adjusted life years (years of life lost due to the impacts).