Biotech Updates

Life Cycle Analysis of Emissions from Restaurant Waste Oil-Based Biodiesel in China

April 12, 2017
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12155-016-9792-5

Waste cooking oil (WCO) can serve as a feedstock for producing biodiesel, which can address food security, waste disposal, and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. China Agricultural University researchers evaluated restaurant waste oil (RWO) availability in China and conducted life cycle analysis (LCA) of GHG and particulate matter emissions of RWO-based biodiesel.

The results showed that the amount of RWO in China varies between 0.56 and 1.67 million tons in 2013 and between 0.54 and 1.63 million tons in 2014. The life cycle analysis estimated a reduction of GHG and particulate matter emissions through the use of RWO-based biodiesel by 90% and 46%, respectively, per 100 km driven by busses in 2014.

With the total amount of RWO available in 2014 in China, the researchers estimate that the potential decrease in annual GHG emission as a result of the use of RWO-based biodiesel ranges from 1.5 - 4.5M tons of GHG and 16.9 - 50.8 tons of particulate matter.