Life Cycle Assessment of Olive Pomace as a Reinforcement in Polypropylene and Polyethylene Biocomposite Materials: A New Perspective for the Valorization of This Agricultural By-Product
Source abstract
Abstract
The main environmental impact of olive oil production is the disposal of residues such as pomace and water vegetation. During the olive oil extraction process, the olive stone is milled and discharged within the olive pomace. However, olive stone flour can be valorized as filler for polymeric composites. A life cycle assessment of the olive pomace valorization was carried out by focusing on the manufacturing process of a biocomposite made of two different thermoplastic matrices, i.e., polyethylene and polypropylene. The functional unit is the production of 1 m2 of a lath made of an olive pomace-based biocomposite. The analysis was carried out with the SimaPro PhD 9.1.1.1 software, and the database used for the modeling was Ecoinvent 3.6. The obtained results reveal that the hotspot of the whole process is the twin-screw compounding of the olive stone fraction, with the polymeric matrix and coupling agent, and that human health is the most affected damage category. It represents 89% for both scenarios studied: olive stone fraction/polypropylene (OSF/PP) and olive stone fraction/polyethylene (OSF/PE). Further research directions include the use of biosourced polymer matrices, which could reduce the impact of olive pomace-based composite manufacturing.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Microplastics and Plastic Pollution · biodegradable polymer synthesis and properties
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Laboratoire de Chimie Agro-Industrielle, Université de Toulouse, INRA, ENSIACET, 4 Allée Emile Monso, CS 44362, 31030 Toulouse, France
Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, ENSIACET, 4 allée Emile Monso, CS 84234, 31432 Toulouse, France
References (85)
Show source-provided references
1. Olive-derived biomass as a renewable source of value-added products10.1016/j.procbio.2020.06.013 ↗
2. Notarnicola, B., Salomone, R., Petti, L., Renzulli, P.A., Roma, R., and Cerutti, A.K. (2015). Life Cycle Assessment in the Agri-Food Sector: Case Studies, Methodological Issues and Best Practices, Springer International Publishing.10.1007/978-3-319-11940-3 ↗
3. Boskou, D. (2006). Olive Oil: Chemistry and Technology, AOCS Publishing. [2nd ed.].10.1201/9781439832028 ↗
4. Vidal, A.M. (2019). Mejora de Las Características Organolépticas, Funcionales y Nutricionales de Aceites de Oliva Vírgenes. [Ph.D. Thesis, Universidad de Jaén].
5. Olive mill wastes: Biochemical characterizations and valorization strategies10.1016/j.procbio.2013.07.010 ↗
6. Notarnicola, B., Salomone, R., Petti, L., Renzulli, P.A., Roma, R., and Cerutti, A.K. (2015). Life cycle assessment in the olive oil sector. Life Cycle Assessment in the Agri-food Sector: Case Studies, Methodological Issues and Best Practices, Springer International Publishing.10.1007/978-3-319-11940-3 ↗
7. Dry fractionation of olive pomace for the development of food packaging biocomposites10.1016/j.indcrop.2018.04.052 ↗
8. Recycling of washed olive pomace ash for fired clay brick manufacturing10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2014.03.026 ↗
9. Exploitation of food industry waste for high-value products10.1016/j.tibtech.2015.10.008 ↗
10. A review of waste management options in olive oil production10.1080/10643380490279932 ↗
11. Valorization of solid waste products from olive oil industry as potential adsorbents for water pollution control—A review10.1007/s11356-013-2135-6 ↗
12. Analysis and trends for life cycle assessment of olive oil production10.1016/j.spc.2019.04.003 ↗
13. Olive by-products for functional and food applications: Challenging opportunities to face environmental constraints10.1016/j.ifset.2016.04.016 ↗
14. Environmental impacts of olive oil production: A life cycle assessment case study in the province of Messina (Sicily)10.1016/j.jclepro.2011.10.004 ↗
15. (2021, January 27). Les Coproduits de L’olivier, Déchets ou Matières Premières D’avenir?. Available online: https://www.olivardeche.fr/articles.php?lng=fr&pg=81&fbclid=IwAR27WcF_zf0qqNu-r869l13AP2zWz8Z9a_E-6F2Dmh14RgcvsAvpOyI3r7I.
16. Aparicio-Ruiz, R., and Harwood, J. (2013). Handbook of Olive Oil: Analysis and Properties, Springer. [2nd ed.].10.1007/978-1-4614-7777-8 ↗
17. How olive pomace can be valorized as fillers to tune the biodegradation of PHBV based composites10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2019.06.010 ↗
18. Alibes, X., Martilotti, F., Nefzaoui, A., and Zoïopoulos, P.E. (1983). Utilisation Des Sous-Produits de l’Olivier En Alimentation Animale Dans Le Bassin Méditerranéen, FAO.
19. Biological conversion of olive pomace into compost by using trichoderma harzianum and phanerochaete chrysosporium10.1016/j.biortech.2009.04.047 ↗
20. Bioremediation and biovalorisation of olive-mill wastes10.1007/s00253-008-1801-y ↗
21. A review of olive mill solid wastes to energy utilization techniques10.1016/j.wasman.2016.01.012 ↗
22. Assessment of the life cycle environmental impact of the olive oil extraction solid wastes in the European Union10.2174/1876400220131014001 ↗
23. Environmental life cycle assessment of olive pomace utilization in Turkey10.1016/j.spc.2020.02.008 ↗
24. Use of olive stone as an additive in cement lime mortar to improve thermal insulation10.1016/j.enbuild.2013.03.040 ↗
25. Characterization of activated carbon prepared from a single cultivar of Jordanian olive stones by chemical and physicochemical techniques
26. Olive stone as a renewable source of biopolyols10.1016/j.indcrop.2010.02.010 ↗
27. Olive pomace flour as potential organic filler in composite materials: A brief review
28. Boufi, S. (2017). Biocomposites from olive-stone flour. Lignocellulosic Fibre and Biomass-Based Composite Materials, Elsevier.10.1016/B978-0-08-100959-8.00018-4 ↗
29. Fabrication and characterization of olive pomace filled PP Composites10.1016/j.compositesb.2017.08.017 ↗
30. Preparation and characterization of olive pit powder as a filler to PLA-matrix bio-composites10.1016/j.powtec.2013.10.047 ↗
31. Dry fractionation of olive pomace as a sustainable process to produce fillers for biocomposites10.1016/j.powtec.2017.11.060 ↗
32. Olive stones flour as reinforcement in polypropylene composites: A step forward in the valorization of the solid waste from the olive oil industry10.1016/j.indcrop.2014.11.051 ↗
33. Effects of interface modification on composites based on olive husk flour10.1016/j.matpr.2020.05.459 ↗
34. (2021, January 27). Researchers Develop Compostable Plastic Packaging from Olive Waste. Available online: https://www.oliveoiltimes.com/world/researchers-develop-compostable-plastic-packaging-from-olive-waste/81373.
35. (2021, January 27). Biolive Biological and Chemical Technologies. Available online: http://www.biolivearge.com/indexen.html.
36. (2021, January 27). Material Insight: Bioplastic Made from Olives. Available online: https://www.materialconnexion.com/material-insight-bioplastic/.
37. A Circular economy and industrial ecology toolbox for developing an eco-industrial park: Perspectives from french policy10.1007/s10098-019-01677-1 ↗
38. Life cycle assessment of advanced oxidation processes for olive mill wastewater treatment10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.05.013 ↗
39. Life cycle assessment (LCA) of olive husk torrefaction10.1016/j.renene.2016.01.022 ↗
40. Energy recovery alternatives for the sustainable management of olive oil industry waste in Australia: Life cycle assessment10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.12.005 ↗
41. Environmental assessment of olive pomace valorization through two different thermochemical processes for energy production10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.03.169 ↗
42. Life cycle assessment of olive pomace valorisation through pyrolysis10.1016/j.renene.2018.02.027 ↗
43. Hauschild, M., Rosenbaum, R.K., and Olsen, S. (2018). Life Cycle Assessment: Theory and Practice, Springer International Publishing.10.1007/978-3-319-56475-3 ↗
44. (2006). ISO 14040 Environmental Management—Life Cycle Assessment—Principles and Framework, International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
45. Life cycle assessment of particulate recycled low density polyethylene and recycled polypropylene reinforced with talc and fiberglass
46. Life cycle assessment of wood-plastic composites: Analysing alternative materials and identifying an environmental sound end-of-life option10.1016/j.resconrec.2016.10.012 ↗
47. Life cycle assessment of composite materials made of recycled thermoplastics combined with rice husks and cotton linters10.1007/s11367-008-0043-7 ↗
48. (2013). EN15804:2012+A1:2013 European Committee for Standardization Sustainability of Construction Works—Environmental Product Declarations—Core Rules for the Product Category of Construction Products, European Standard.
49. (2006). ISO 14044: Environmental Management—Life Cycle Assessment—Requirements and Guidelines, International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
50. Naghmouchi, I., Mutjé, P., and Boufi, S. (2014). Polyvinyl chloride composites filled with olive stone flour: Mechanical, thermal, and water absorption properties. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 131.10.1002/app.41083 ↗
51. Sobczak, P., Mazur, J., Zawiślak, K., Panasiewicz, M., Żukiewicz-Sobczak, W., Królczyk, J., and Lechowski, J. (2019). Evaluation of dust concentration during grinding grain in sustainable agriculture. Sustainability, 11.10.3390/su11174572 ↗
52. Zhao, X., Roberts, G., and Roberts, E. (2019). Bio-Composite and Bioplastic Materials and Method. (No. 16/345,668), U.S. Patent Application.
53. (2020, July 10). RETSCH Cutting Mill SM 300—Retsch. Available online: https://www.retsch.com/products/milling/cutting-mills/sm-300/function-features/.
54. Performance, durability and recycling of thermoplastic biocomposites reinforced with coriander straw10.1016/j.compositesa.2018.07.038 ↗
55. (2020, July 09). DECO 20L Ball Mill Lab Experiment. Available online: http://m.deco-ballmill.com/laboratory-ball-mill/lab-roller-ball-mill/20l-ball-mill-lab-experiment.html.
56. Environmental evaluation of biomass pelleting using life cycle assessment10.1016/j.biombioe.2015.11.018 ↗
57. (2020, July 10). RITEC Tamiseurs MC-RITEC. Available online: http://ritec.fr/separer/tamiseurs/MC.
58. Olive oil recovery methods
59. Screening LCA of French organic amendments and fertilisers10.1007/s11367-020-01732-w ↗
60. Schau, E.M., Michalopoulos, G., and Russo, C. (2016). Product Enviromental Footprint Category Rules for Olive Oil, European Commission.
61. Qin, Q., and Ye, J. (2015). Introduction to the composite and its toughening mechanisms. Toughening Mechanisms in Composite Materials, Woodhead Publishing.10.1016/B978-1-78242-279-2.00001-9 ↗
62. Cossu, R., and Stegmann, R. (2018). Polymeric Geomembrane Components in Landfill Liners. Solid Waste Landfilling, Elsevier.10.1016/B978-0-12-407721-8.00030-9 ↗
63. (2020, September 03). Sigma-Aldrich Polypropylene-Graft-Maleic Anhydride. Available online: https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/product/aldrich/427845.
64. (2020, September 03). Sigma-Aldrich Polyethylene-Graft-Maleic Anhydride. Available online: https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/product/aldrich/456624.
65. Recovery and use of olive stones: Commodity, environmental and economic assessment10.1016/j.rser.2010.01.018 ↗
66. Are natural fiber composites environmentally superior to glass fiber reinforced composites?10.1016/j.compositesa.2003.09.016 ↗
67. Energy recovery of the solid waste of the olive oil industries—LCA analysis and carbon footprint assessment
68. An overview on olive mill wastes and their valorisation methods10.1016/j.wasman.2005.07.024 ↗
69. Recycle, bury, or burn wood waste biomass?: LCA answer depends on carbon accounting, emissions controls, displaced fuels, and impact costs10.1111/jiec.12469 ↗
70. Combustion analysis of different olive residues10.3390/ijms9040512 ↗
71. Experimental results of olive pits gasification in a fixed bed downdraft gasifier system10.1080/15435075.2012.655351 ↗
72. Mami, M.A., Mätzing, H., Gehrmann, H.-J., Stapf, D., Bolduan, R., and Lajili, M. (2018). Investigation of the olive mill solid wastes pellets combustion in a counter-current fixed bed reactor. Energies, 11.10.3390/en11081965 ↗
73. Development of olive stone quality system based on biofuel energetic parameters study10.1016/j.renene.2013.12.009 ↗
74. Iglesias Loredo, R. (2019). Valorización Energética del Orujillo de Aceituna. [Master’s Thesis, Universidad del Pais Vasco].
75. Olive stone an attractive source of bioactive and valuable compounds10.1016/j.biortech.2007.11.027 ↗
76. PRé Sustainability (2020). SimaPro Database Manual: Methods Library, SimaPro.
77. ReCiPe2016: A harmonised life cycle impact assessment method at midpoint and endpoint level10.1007/s11367-016-1246-y ↗
78. Terrestrial ecotoxicity and effect factors of metals in life cycle assessment (LCA)10.1016/j.chemosphere.2007.03.019 ↗
79. Life cycle assessment software for product and process sustainability analysis10.1021/ed200741b ↗
80. Bergman, R., Suo-Han, H., Oneil, E., and Eastin, I. (2013). The Consortium for Research on Renewable Industrial Materials, CORRIM.
81. Thorton, J., Healthy Building Network, and Institute for Local Self-Reliance (2002). Environmental Impacts of Polyvinyl Chloride Building Materials, Healthy Building Network.
82. Twin-screw extrusion impact on natural fibre morphology and material properties in poly(lactic acid) based biocomposites10.1016/j.indcrop.2013.01.026 ↗
83. Life cycle assessment of waste disposal from olive oil production: Anaerobic digestion and conventional disposal on soil10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.02.021 ↗
84. (2021, January 13). Carbon Dioxide Emissions Associated with Bioenergy and Other Biogenic Sources. Available online: /climatechange/carbon-dioxide-emissions-associated-bioenergy-and-other-biogenic-sources.
85. Assessment of carbon footprint and energy performance of the extra virgin olive oil chain in Umbria, Italy10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.02.104 ↗