Comparative life cycle assessment of biochar-based lignocellulosic biohydrogen production: Sustainability analysis...

Lignocellulose has been considered a potential feedstock for biohydrogen production. Recently, a novel closed-loop concept of biochar approach was developed for enhanced lignocellulosic biohydrogen production. This study therefore targets to analyze the environmental impacts of the three existing lignocellulosic biohydrogen production processes, and evaluate the environmental performance of applying biochar in each process at this early stage of technological development. The results suggest that biochar dosing shows better environmental performance for all impact categories, especially in the consolidate bioprocessing case. Electricity consumption was found to be the dominant cause of environmental impact over the life cycle, while by-products generation was also found to have an effect on the life-cycle impacts. Future research focuses on the biohydrogen production scale, the electricity generation scheme transition towards renewable and cleaner energetic systems, and recovery the by-products to the maximum extent, that will make lignocellulosic biohydrogen production more environmentally sustainable.