Optimal ecodesign selection for biodiesel production in biorefineries through multicriteria decision making

Nowadays, a large part of daily activities is associated with the use of fossil fuels. Therefore, the excessive exploitation and related pollution have led to the search for alternatives. A current alternative to replace them is production of biofuels. They are produced in facilities called biorefineries which are ecodesigned. The ecodesign in biorefineries is a multicriteria issue encountering various criteria. In this context, the aim of this study is the assessment of various biorefinery ecodesign alternatives for the selection of the optimal pathway to produce biodiesel as an alternative to fossil fuels. A multicriteria decision-making methodological framework is proposed and applied to two case studies with three scenarios each. Decision support techniques show that the best ecodesign alternative for the first case study is a biorefinery of four platforms to produce biodiesel, glycerin, potassium phosphate, heat and energy, bio-oil, and bio-carbon from jatropha biomass, while in case two the selection is not conclusive which is attributable to subjectivity. This framework addresses the issue presented by biorefineries looking for sustainability but also for other industries looking for application on their process design. Incorporating sustainable considerations into biorefinery process design as well as assessing them through different criteria to choose the optimal configuration is the main issue faced by decision makers and stakeholders. Graphic abstract

Automated summary

The study aims to evaluate various biorefinery ecodesign alternatives for the production of biodiesel as an alternative to fossil fuels. Through decision support techniques, it was found that the best ecodesign alternative for the first case study involves utilizing jatropha biomass to produce biodiesel, glycerin, potassium phosphate, heat and energy, bio-oil, and bio-carbon, while the selection in the second case study is inconclusive.