Prospective Life Cycle Assessment of Microbial Sophorolipid Fermentation

Karina Balina (Corresponding Author), Raimonda Soloha, Arturs Suleiko, Konstantins Dubencovs, Janis Liepins, Elina Dace

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    7 Citations (Scopus)
    19 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    The biorefinery industry is witnessing a transition from fossil and chemical-based processes to more sustainable practices, with a growing emphasis on using renewable resources. Sophorolipids, a promising group of biosurfactants, present a viable substitute for conventionally produced surfactants. This study focuses on microbial fermentation using yeast and lipid substrate for sophorolipid production. The life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology was employed to identify environmental hotspots of the process and to assess the environmental benefits resulting from the replacement of raw rapeseed cooking oil (base scenario) with waste cooking oil, reduction of process electricity consumption, and increased sophorolipid yield. By compiling scenarios with the lowest environmental impact, a best-case scenario was created. The results revealed that the environmental impact of sophorolipid production could be reduced by 50% in the best-case scenario compared to the base scenario. This research provides valuable insights into the environmental optimization of the fermentation process and through the application of LCA highlights the potential for the reduction of negative environmental impact of sophorolipid production, contributing to the ongoing transition from petroleum oil and petrochemical refineries to sustainable biorefineries.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article number839
    JournalFermentation
    Volume9
    Issue number9
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Sept 2023

    Keywords*

    • biotechnology
    • environmental impact
    • glycolipid surfactants
    • life cycle assessment
    • Starmerella bombicola
    • waste cooking oil

    Field of Science*

    • 2.7 Environmental engineering
    • 2.9 Industrial biotechnology

    Publication Type*

    • 1.1. Scientific article indexed in Web of Science and/or Scopus database

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    • Waste2Surf: Sustainable Microbial Valorisation of Waste Lipids into Biosurfactants

      Dāce, E. (Project leader), Bāliņa, K. (Leading expert), Soloha, R. (Expert (PhD student)), Stalidzāns, E. (Work package leader), Bērziņš, K. (Expert (PhD student)), Liepins, J. (Work package leader), Berzina, I. (Expert (PhD student)), Vanags, J. (Work package leader), Šuleiko, A. (Leading expert) & Dubencovs, K. (Leading expert)

      1/10/2030/09/23

      Project: Projects outside RSU

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