A LIFE-CYCLE INVENTORY FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ALKYL POLYGLUCOSIDES IN EUROPE

An overview is given of the energy and resource requirements and envir onmental emissions arising from the production of 1000 kg of C-12/14-A lkyl Polyglucoside surfactants, produced from coconut oil (APG-CNO) an d palm kernel oil (APG-PKO). The total energy requirements range from 61 GJ/1000 kg (APG-PKO) to 65 GJ/1000 kg (APG-CNO), with process energ y comprising about 37 % to 44 % of the total. The fossil energy requir ements comprise about 40 % (APG-CNO) to 44 % (APG-PKO) per 1000 kg of the total. Most atmospheric emissions are associated with the producti on and combustion of fuels and reflect the process energy requirements . The non-fossil CO2 arises mainly from the combustion of fibers and s hells for energy generation at the palm/coconut oil mills. Methane emi ssions occur during the manufacture of APG-PKO. Most of the waterborne emissions arise from processing operations - COD and BOD are about 1- 3 kg/1000 1000 kg for APG-PKO, and about 7-8 kg/1000 kg for APG-CNO. T he high waterborne emissions for APG-CNO are associated with the run-o ff of coconut water when the nuts are halved. Solid waste ranges from 135 kg (APG-CNO) to 148 kg/1000 kg (APG-PKO). About 45 % of this is fu el-related, related with the production and combustion of fuels. The r emainder is process related, mainly waste associated with the producti on of the phosphate fertiliser required for corn growing. Several oppo rtunities for improvement are described.