Μελέτη Ανάλυσης Κύκλου Ζωής (ΑΚΖ) και οικονομικής αποτίμησης περιβαλλοντικών επιπτώσεων βιοδιυλιστηρίου για την αξιοποίηση οργανικών αποβλήτων ελαιοτριβείων

Σταμάτης, Μιχαήλ

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and monetization of environmental impacts of a biorefinery for olive mill waste valorization

Master Thesis

Author

Σταμάτης, Μιχαήλ

Date

2025-07

Abstract

This diploma thesis presents a comprehensive environmental and economic assessment of a proposed biorefinery system for the valorization of two-phase olive mill waste (OMW). The system integrates the recovery of residual olive oil, the extraction of phenolic compounds, and the conversion of remaining solids into bio-based agricultural products, promoting the circular economy in the agri-food sector. The environmental assessment was conducted using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Methodology in SimaPro 9.1 software, following the ReCiPe 2016 Midpoint (H) method. Environmental impacts were assessed across 18 midpoint categories. Electricity emerged as the factor with the highest environmental burden in the system, leading to further investigation into the effect of the energy mix. These impacts were then converted into monetary terms using the CE Delft Environmental Prices Handbook, allowing for a unified economic valuation of the total burdens. Regarding the monetary valuation (per tonne of waste), the three most significant categories were fine particulate matter formation (€37.091), human carcinogenic toxicity (€32.0295), and global warming (€31.1616), with a total external cost amounting to €125.118810 for the Baseline Scenario. To estimate uncertainty, a Monte Carlo analysis with 10,000 iterations was applied, using a lognormal distribution for all system inputs. The results showed low variability and high stability. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis was performed concerning the energy mix (Cyprus, EU average, Norway) to evaluate the impact of the electricity source on the system's environmental and economic footprint. Replacing the EU average with Norway's energy mix (which relies almost exclusively on renewable sources) led to a reduction in the total external cost to €38.6, representing a 69% decrease. Significant reductions were also recorded in global warming (–57%), fine particulate matter formation (–77%), freshwater eutrophication (–78%), and ionizing radiation (–85%). Overall, the study demonstrates the critical importance of the energy mix used, as it decisively influences both the environmental footprint and the economic cost. The combination of Life Cycle Assessment and economic valuation provides a holistic decision-support tool, emphasizing the value of adopting sustainable practices and technologies.

Postgraduate Studies Programme

Βιοοικονομία, Κυκλική Οικονομία και Βιώσιμη Ανάπτυξη

Department

Σχολή Οικονομικών, Επιχειρηματικών και Διεθνών Σπουδών. Τμήμα Οικονομικής Επιστήμης

Number of pages

113

Language

Greek

URI

https://dione.lib.unipi.gr/xmlui/handle/unipi/18049

Collections

Τμήμα Οικονομικής Επιστήμης

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Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as
Αναφορά Δημιουργού-Μη Εμπορική Χρήση-Όχι Παράγωγα Έργα 3.0 Ελλάδα