Life-Cycle Environmental Impact Assessment and Analysis of Wheat Straw Fuel Ethanol E10

With the rapid development of the automotive industry, China is facing increasing challenges related to energy security and air pollution; furthermore, the development of the fuel ethanol industry has become an important strategic concern for China. This paper aims to develop a life-cycle assessment (LCA) for sugarcane fuel ethanol, assess its environmental impact potential, and identify factors that contribute to the major impacts. The main influence pathway of bioethanol production was innovatively combined with LCA. Based on Simapro 9.1.1 software analysis, the production of fuel ethanol from wheat straw, and the use of E10 in gasoline, were systematically analyzed and evaluated, including the whole process from S1-wheat planting, S2-wheat straw transportation, and S3-ethanol conversion to S4-E10 final distribution and use. The results of the LCA analysis indicate significant variations in the contribution of each link to the environmental impact. The standard value of the environmental impact in the overall production process of fuel ethanol E10 is primarily attributed to photochemical smog potential and eutrophication potential, while global warming potential (GWP) has a minimal impact on the environment in this process. The sensitivity analysis of the two stages of the wheat straw fuel ethanol E10 system reveals that a 10% reduction in the nitrogen fertilizer rate leads to a 448% decrease in human toxicity potential (HTP). Additionally, changes in nitrogen fertilizer-use have a minimal effect on photochemical smog potential (POCP), and a 0.37% reduction in the ozone layer depletion potential is observed, with a 10% decrease in nitrogen fertilizer-use. Furthermore, a 10% change in cellulase content results in a 22.20% variation in the GWP value and a 5.37% variation in the HTP value. This paper demonstrates significant guidance for promoting low-carbon, green, sustainable development of fuel ethanol.