Environmental impacts of sugarcane wax biorefining via Swenson process: a life cycle perspective with regional analysis of energy advantages

Abstract A significant opportunity to mitigate environmental impacts in the sugarcane ( Saccharum officinarum L.) industry lies in quasi-circular biorefinery routes, such as the Swenson Process (SP), which employs sustainable methods for raw wax extraction, where careful solvent selection and regional energy matrix choices are crucial. This study conducts a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the SP, focusing on two key aspects: (1) Comparative energy advantages in Northeast Brazil versus Cuba (Global Warming Potential over a 100-year timescale - GWP-100). (2) Environmental impact assessment of heptane-based extraction versus toluene-based alternatives, selected using Hansen Solubility Parameters in Practice (HSPiP © ) software database. The LCA was conducted using openLCA © software and Ecoinvent © database, monitoring 16 input and output variables in a production flow processing 15 t/h of filter cake to produce 5.54 t/d and 4.95 t/d of raw wax using heptane and toluene, respectively. Monte Carlo simulations indicate that the total GWP-100 of the SP is (9.6 ± 2.8)×10 3 and (11.0 ± 3.4)×10 3 kg CO 2 eq/t raw wax for heptane and toluene, respectively, in Cuba, while for Brazil these values decrease to (4.9 ± 1.3)×10 3 and (6.1 ± 1.8)×10 3 kg CO 2 eq/t raw wax, respectively. The analysis also revealed that while heptane showed no significant toxicity risks, toluene exhibited measurable human non-cancer toxicity effects. The lower GWP-100 impact estimated for Brazil versus Cuba, primarily due to differences in electricity grid composition, suggests significant environmental benefits for implementing this technology in this leading sugarcane-producing country. These findings provide valuable guidance for the sustainable development of sugarcane biorefineries and contribute to understanding environmental considerations in SP.