From industrial wastewater to high performance bioplastics: knowledge integration for efficient decision-making

Abstract

The potential processes for the production of bioplastics from industrial wastewater are characterised by the combination of technologies of uneven maturity. This contribution deals with integration of knowledge of different sources, namely: mathematical models, literature data processed in a meta analysis and experimental data from the most novel technologies. From this knowledge integration, the evaluation of the environmental performance of the whole value chain is performed by life cycle assessment. Carrying out this evaluation in an early-stage of development is intended to help decision-making in the optimisation and selection of technologies and target efforts in the improvement of sustainability hot-spots.