A Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Wild Algae Versus Petroleum

Abstract:  A Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Wild Algae versus Petroleum

            Carbon dioxide is the primary greenhouse gas contributing to global climate change. Anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions have increased drastically since the start of the industrial revolution.  This is a serious problem as the continued unsustainable use of “reduced carbon” from petroleum threatens the long-term health of the planet.  Many development paths are being explored for replacing petroleum with biofuels for transportation. A proper life cycle assessment would enable the determination of whether a biofuel is a better alternative than the petroleum.  I have performed a life cycle assessment (LCA) of macroalgae from Jamaica Bay New York and compared this to the use of petroleum to produce fuels.   This LCA takes into account emissions due to algae farming and processing to a fuel that is a drop-in replacement for refined petroleum.  The overall fuel that can be produced from this process is also discussed.