Life cycle assessment of biodiesel environmental effects

The environmental effect of biodiesel was evaluated using a life cycle assessment (LCA). The pollutant emissions were counted for biodiesel production from different feed stocks, rape seed oil, Jatropha curcas L oil and waste oil, taking into account the planting, harvesting and transportation, pretreatment, biodiesel production, distribution and consumption. The results show that the life cycle CO2 emissions for biodiesel production from these plants are lower than for fossil fuel diesel, while the emissions of HC, CO are comparable to those for fossil diesel. The emissions of NOx and particulate matter (PM) for biodiesel are higher than for diesel, with the SO2 emissions are far higher than for diesel. The planting and biodiesel production accounted for the higher SO2 emissions, with the other waste gases mainly discharge from engines during consumption. The liquid and solid discharges for these kinds of biodiesel are higher than for diesel, so to find other new energy plants is needed.