A LIFE-CYCLE INVENTORY FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ALCOHOL SULFATES IN EUROPE

An overview is given of the resource and energy requirements and envir onmental emissions arising from the production of 1000 kg alcohol sulf ates (AS) based on petrochemical (AS-Pc) and 3 oleochemical sources, p alm oil (AS-PO), palm kernel oil (AS-PKO), and coconut oil (AS-CNO). T he total energy requirements range from 52 to 73 GJ/1000 kg (AS-Pc). T he fossil energy requirements range from 17.0 GJ (AS-PO) to 69.8 GJ (A S-Pc), representing 33 % and 95 %, respectively, of the total energy r equirement for the products. Most of the atmospheric emissions arise f rom the production and consumption of fuels and reflect the process en ergy requirements. Methane emissions arise from the manufacture of AS- PO and AS-PKO. Non-fossil CO2 arises from AS-PKO and AS-CNO production due to combustion of fibres and shells for energy generation at the o il mill. Most of the waterborne emissions arise from processing operat ions COD ranges from 1.6 kg/1000 kg (AS-Pc) to 11 kg (AS-CNO) and diss olved solids range from 5.3 kg to 32 kg, respectively. AS-PKO and AS-P O have a COD of about 3 kg and dissolved solids of about 7.6 kg. The h igh waterborne emissions from coconut systems arise from the run-off c oconut water when the nuts are halved. The major part of the solid was te is fuel-related ranging from 59 % (AS-PKO) to 83 % (AS-Pc) of the t otal solid waste, which ranges from 68 kg (AS-PO) to 88 kg (AS-PKO).