Cradle-to-Gate Life Cycle Assessment for a Cradle-to-Cradle Cycle: Biogas-to-Bioplastic (and Back)
Abstract
At present, most synthetic organic materials are produced from fossil carbon feedstock that is regenerated over time scales of millions of years. Biobased alternatives can be rapidly renewed in cradle-to-cradle cycles (1-10 years). Such materials extend landfill life and decrease undesirable impacts due to material persistence. This work develops a LCA for synthesis of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) from methane with subsequent biodegradation of PHB back to biogas (40-70% methane, 30-60% carbon dioxide). The parameters for this cradle-to-cradle cycle for PHB production are developed and used as the basis for a cradle-to-gate LCA. PHB production from biogas methane is shown to be preferable to its production from cultivated feedstock due to the energy and land required for the feedstock cultivation and fermentation. For the PHB-methane cycle, the major challenges are PHB recovery and demands for energy. Some or all of the energy requirements can be satisfied using renewable energy, such as a portion of the collected biogas methane. Oxidation of 18-26% of the methane in a biogas stream can meet the energy demands for aeration and agitation, and recovery of PHB synthesized from the remaining 74-82%. Effective coupling of waste-to-energy technologies could thus conceivably enable PHB production without imported carbon and energy.
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Closed-loop recycling of PHA can be realized by several biotic pathways.
“While the closed-loop recycling of PHA can be realized by several biotic pathways 463,464 , the chemical recycling of PHAs to the constituent monomers can provide a time-efficient option.375”
From Catalysis as an Enabling Science for Sustainable Polymers (2018) · cites this paper as [464]
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Catalysis as an Enabling Science for Sustainable Polymers
Zhang, X., Fevre, M., Jones, G. O., & Waymouth, R. M. (2018) · Chemical Reviews · doi:10.1021/acs.chemrev.7b00329 · Cited by 936 · see citing works
Myung, J., Flanagan, J. C. A., Waymouth, R. M., & Criddle, C. S. (2016) · Process Biochemistry · doi:10.1016/j.procbio.2016.02.005 · Cited by 69 · see citing works
Self-citation
- Authors
- Rostkowski, K. H., Criddle, C. S., & Lepech, M. D.
- Affiliations
- Stanford University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Rostkowski, Katherine H.
- Venue
- Environmental Science & Technology
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Published
- 2012-09-06
- Volume
- 46
- Issue
- 18
- Pages
- 9822-9829
- ISSN
- 0013-936X (ISSN-L)
- 1520-5851
- OpenAlex
- W1973041860
- Cited by
- 137
- References
- 69
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 2.47
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Environmental Science & Technology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Biomaterials › biodegradable polymer synthesis and properties
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Engineering › Environmental Impact and Sustainability
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Building and Construction › Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Production
- Keywords
- polyhydroxybutyrate, biogas, methane, bioplastic production, biodegradation, waste-to-energy, bioplastics, energy requirements, aeration energy, renewable energy, land use
- MeSH terms
- Biodegradation, Environmental, Hydroxybutyrates, Methane, Models, Molecular, Polymers, Biomass, Biofuels, Renewable Energy
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